Yesterday we registered Tyler for Kindergarten. As we walked into the registration area there were five sections and Tyler bounced from station to stations as an eager ‘soon to be’ Kindergartner would. As I approached station one, I got a knot in my throat and my eyes began to tear up. I said to myself “self, get it together, it’s only registration…in six months you’ll be the fool running behind the school bus crying on her first day.”
I made it through the registration process, but I took a few minutes to reflect on what the next few months mean for our family as Tyler embarks on this new journey. We’ve done our best to instill strong values in all of our children, a sense of respect for self and others and we take the time every day to stress the importance of education. While I know in my heart that we’ve prepared her academically, I shudder to think about how she will manage some of the social challenges that I struggled to navigate as a student.
What will I do when she comes home crying after having her pig tails pulled or after being teased by the big kid in class? How do I encourage her after she fails to get a desired part in a play or how do I show her how to use conflict management skills after her first playground tiff? As a mom, I have to admit that I never really thought about the challenges of school beyond the homework until now.
Again, I had another little moment with myself and I said “self, remember that you had wonderful guides throughout your elementary years…your mom and dad.” At that moment of revelations, I was able to take a sigh of relief. That’s exactly how I managed to overcome obstacles and be successful throughout my grammar school and high school years. My journey wasn’t easy, by any means, but as I look back I can recall moments of encouragement, tough love and praise from both of my parents. What was also a blessing is that my parents had different gifts in terms of how they raised and mentored us. My mother was always good and kissing both physical and emotional wounds and my dad (although very stern) keep me inspired academically and always encouraged me to think outside of the box, long before the phrase was coined.
So, as a new chapter begins to unfold in my life and in Tyler’s, I won’t have to reinvent the wheel in terms of doing my part to ensure that our daughter embraces a holistic educational experience. I will reflect on my own past and sharpen the tools inherited from my parents to make sure Tyler’s educational journey is a success.
PS: I’m going to not to make a fool of myself when she actually starts school, but check back on August 29th to see how her first day really goes!
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