(how cool is this picture?)Abby will be getting a bonus year of childhood by getting to go back to pre-school... and I get a year more of workdays and you get an extra year of Orange slushees as you try to use your entire crate of Oranges that you ARE still going to buy from me.
But this graduation was still important because this is the class she started in... before she was "social," before she knew what a "playdate" was - she started out with this class, with these friends.
And since she was the second youngest in her class, that meant that this class was special because they literally taught her a lot. From phrases and tones that perhaps I could have done without, to how to survive in the rough playgrounds of Pasadena. At one time or another she loved each of them DEEPLY and desperately needed to set up time away from school with them. She had quite a love affair with Henry within her first few months. She's been in love with Dexter since Christmas. She's had quite a friendship with Maggie and Campbell and Sarah. She's invited EVERYONE, including Miss Janet, to the condo (whether or not we were actually going).
If nothing else, having her be a part of this class, the class she would be with if she were following the standard state's deadline and she was always behind. It didn't worry me so much as ... okay, it made me a little sad for her now and then when she was trying so hard to do what the other girls (or boys) were doing and she just hadn't reached that step yet... or she was late to the game in general.
SO this was a special class, an important class... but the future is bright too. Just wait for the water works when she graduates with this next class (which includes Claire and Pearl). Think about it - Claire who's grandparents have been in the same Bible Study with Abby's grandparents for thirty+ years... who shared life and hardship and this whole parenthood and beyond thing - who's mom and Steve used to play together from Steve's birth... before they graduated pre-school, much less high school and college and first dates and meeting their spouses. .. yeah... it's on next year people.
PLUS Micaiah will have just finished his first year and then following that next year or the year after we start all over with Jack!
Yup, baby, I'm talking about you!
I dare you to be there and not cry. I just dare you.
3 comments:
How about adding one of mom and Abby...I am sure Abby would agree that we need ALL the family that was there!
Rachel's preschool class had their graduation on May 23, and I cried during that, too. All the kids got little diplomas, whether they were actually "graduating" this year or not. It was so cute to see them walking with their fake mortarboards, and Rachel was looking around for me as she walked down the aisle and smiled so big when she saw me. Then they sang a song by Mary Rice Hopkins. I think it's called "Fingerprints." It's all about how they'll grow up before we know it, so "remember me when I am small." Even as I type it, I'm welling up and trying not to bawl. So darn emotional since Ben was born, but that song really got me and was a good reminder that, exasperating as she can be, Rachel will be grown in the blink of an eye, so I need to appreciate all the moments I have with her. Those darn preschools know how to nail the parents right in the heart, don't they?
"remember me when I'm small" Oh come on, that isn't even human how tear-jerking that is!!!!
That's just downright unfair!
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