Letters to Jack: Kindergarten.
Jack,
In the cutest 30 minutes I have ever witnessed, you graduated kindergarten on Friday!
One thing your teacher commented on at graduation is that you and your classmates have not had a normal first few years of education. You’ve had a lot more obstacles to overcome than most kids in kindergarten. There’s been trying to learn to pronounce new words when everyone is wearing a mask, there’s been shutdowns, lots of distance, canceled events. I’m sad that you don’t know what it’s like to get to crowd around with your friends on the playground, or share your Easter candy, or hand our Valentine’s Day cards you picked out at the store. But this is the only world you’ve ever known, and you’re doing great in it.
You’re incredibly smart, and I’m proud of that, but more than that, here’s what I’ve heard about you:
You are incredibly kind. You’re empathetic. When someone is having trouble with their work, you ask if you’re allowed to help them. If you’re not, you tell them they can do it and cheer them on. You are sensitive to the feelings of others.
THESE are the things that matter. I am so proud of how quickly you’ve learned reading and math, but that doesn’t come near to how proud I am to hear how kind you are. These things will carry you much further than good grades will.
You ask roughly 1.2 million questions per day. You are no longer satisfied with “I don’t know” or anything other than a thorough answer. You have the energy of a rabid chimpanzee and I am pretty much tired all of the time. But you are happy, and I am happy. You are joy in the purest form I’ve ever seen it. Sometimes I just look at you and cannot believe that youre mine, that I get to be yours, that we get to do life together. How lucky am I.
You are the love of my life.
I hope you read this one day, maybe when you’re graduating high school, when I am inevitably telling you I love you and am proud of you, and see that I have always been so proud of you, from the very beginning. You’ve always been so loved. I’ve always been so happy you’re mine.
You are exactly you, exactly as you want to be. And I hope you always, always are.
I love you forever, bubs. Good job.
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Sweet Jack! (I honestly remember reading your birth story with him way back when – WOW.) Graduating Kindergarten!! Jack sounds like the sweetest little soul. And so darn smart and curious, too. You are doing a GREAT job, Mama!!
Isn’t it CRAZY how time is?! You’re the best – glad we’re on the ride together!
What a milestone but also how is he going into 1st grade?!
RIGHT?! Feels like he was just born!!
You know he’s going to sob when he graduates high school and reads all of these, right? <3 He's so lucky to have you too!
you’re the best <3 it's crazy to think about that happening one day!