My Graduate…
June 14, 2011
You did it 
Even though it took begging, pleading, lots of snuggles, endless practices and discussions about the big day, you did it (well, some of it). You participated in your preschool graduation to the very best of your ability (which consisted of signing the pledge of allegiance in tears, playing a drum nearly in tears and taking your diploma before retreating back to my lap). Despite your fear that the people you don’t know in the crowd won’t like you, you did the very best that you could and I’m proud of you for that.
Your preschool must be one of the most fabulous preschools on earth. The amount of effort and preparation the entire staff and students put into the event truly shows how much they care and love your class. From the large framed picture of what you want to be when you grow up (a paleontologist of course) to the gift bag, to the book with personal messages from each of your teachers to the CD with pictures of your class throughout the 4 years you’ve been there – all amazingly wonderful.
You are also amazingly wonderful – and I’m not the only one who thinks that. The evidence is in the book, where every message from your teacher refers to you as a sweet, kind, smart child who is happy to play with everyone.
Your current love/obsession is dinosaurs. I’ve learned more about dinosaurs from you and trying to keep up with you than I ever thought I would want or need to know.
You are currently this wonderful mix of an adorably sweet little boy who thinks about dinosaurs about 90% of his day and a kid who is still little in a few ways. You still like help getting dressed even though we all know that you can do it on your own and have been able to for years now. Every few months you still wake up in the night and crawl into bed beside me, and I don’t make you leave because I cherish those cuddles – I know they will become more and more scarce in the coming years (although you can’t seem to believe that yet).
You know all of your letters and numbers and enjoy doing addition and subtraction on your hands. You like to write, but some of your letters still give you a little trouble, and adding the extra tails to your small a’s and to the tops of your small n’s is still super cute, though I expect/hope that kindergarten will help you get those figured out.
I am so excited to see your next milestones – to see you play organized sports, to make new friends, to start at a new school in the fall and I have to keep reminding myself that despite your smarts and excitement, you are still the youngest child in your class and some of the things might be more of a challenge for you. Don’t worry though, your father and I will be there to help, support and cheer you on the whole way. It is bittersweet to see my squishy little baby shed his baby-ness and grow up.
Congratulations little man – we love you so very much!
Xander did do a wonderful job and being the youngest & super shy when I was little I could identify. Thank you for the praise for us and the school ndwe do truly love what we do and we come to think of them as our children too! Can’t believe my first group of babies is headed to Kindergarten-tearing up now just writing this! Hope I can get through just one graduation without crying before my years here are done!
Congrats Xander!!