Kindergarten graduation.
Another stomach-lurching drop on the emotional roller coaster that this month has become: Dad’s birthday, Mother’s Day, packing up my classroom, graduation, Razorback baseball, surgery, and now, my baby graduating kindergarten.
To be honest, I started worrying about Gabe and kindergarten somewhere around 3 1/2, when he went from being my sweet, passive baby to this wild-child, rough and tumble bulldozer. He couldn’t sit still, wouldn’t stop talking, and was twice the size of every kid in his class.
He challenges me. Pushes me. Makes me question everything I know about teaching and ADHD and parenting. He continues to teach me to be more patient, compassionate, and kind. He also asks me “why” on nearly every subject known to man, and I’m pretty sure he could hold a record for the most questions asked in a day.
I was scared that kindergarten would be a terrible experience for all of us.
But he has thrived this year. His teacher has been an angel, a real blessing who has loved on him, encouraged him, and kept me from going crazy (well, too crazy.) He is officially a reader, and he enjoys math. He has grown socially and emotionally; he’s developed patience with himself and others. He received the Gator Spirit Award yesterday for excellent school spirit. Another mom told me he’s the “ultimate hype man,” always encouraging those around him. Pretty sure that made me prouder than any grade he’s received all year.
Gabe is a handful—there’s no denying that—but he’s has the biggest heart. I’ve said it before, and I’ll probably say it fifteen more times: God knew we would needed our little surprise 6.5 years ago, before we knew we needed him ourselves. Here’s to twelve more years of questions, sports, and cheering everyone on. Oh, and BIG PRAYERS that he still thinks his mom is the “best mommy in the whole wide world” when he graduates high school. Not sure my momma heart could take anything less.
Diary of a Girl from Nowhere 