So, most people cry (maybe not in public and I know a lot of people that pretend that they never shed a tear, but let me say one thing to those people... I'm on to you. There's absolutely no way on God's green earth you didn't shed a single tear that day, so don't give me any of that.) on the first day of kindergarten. Gotcha. But. What about the last day of kindergarten??? Yup. I was the one crying in the car line that day. Actually, I think I started on the Monday of the last week of school. During the car line for pick-up, you have a lot of time to sit in your car by yourself and think. I reflected on the days after kindergarten first started, all the days that followed that Cooper came home telling me of a new friend or using some big word he learned. I thought about what a true blessing and what a great decision it was to send Cooper on to kindergarten knowing he may be one of the youngest and possibly one of the smallest. It never came up once, his size or age and I think that most of that had to do with his teacher. I can't believe I'm admitting this, but I'm getting kind-of teary just typing about her. Honestly. She's the definition of "blessing." I fear for all of the rest of our teachers during our entire educational career in the Maryville City School system. Seriously. I'm absolutely not kidding here. How can anyone live up to what our very first year in school has been like? So, I'm sorry to tell all you future teachers of both of our kiddos... I just don't see how you can ever be up to this lady's snuff. I will love you, no doubt. I will appreciate your time and effort and abilities when it comes to how you educate and appreciate and love my children. I promise I will never, ever say this to your face and I promise to treat you like you're the most amazing teacher on the planet.
On the first day of kindergarten, Mrs. Johnson gave us that poem that I have read often. It makes me cry every darn time, too! I wish I could come up with words to express to her what she means to our family, but instead, I hope that the proof is in the pudding... Cooper has grown so much this year, more than we could have ever hoped or wished or even was forwarned about. He is a bright little boy who can read, check out a library book, count to 100 by 1's, 2's, 5's and 10's without hesitation, buy his own lunch and give his classmates compliments without prompting. Do you think I taught him any of that?
Flashback: August 2010, first day of kindergarten
May 13, 2011. Last day of kindergarten (there I go again! Anyone have any tissues??)
And it just wouldn't be a birthday post without a baby picture. That's right. Within a week of each other, my sweet baby boy has walked out of his school as a (almost--) first grader, blew kisses to his precious teacher as we drove off for the last time this year and now on Thursday he'll turn 6 whole huge, wonderful years old. I admit, finally and painfully, my wonderfully wonderful baby boy is now a big kid. It was hard to watch and it felt like it happened with the speed of lightening, but all year I've watched him grow (literally and figuratively) into a kid. Like, a real kid that responds to cool things I say (I know, I can't believe it either) by saying "SWEET!" and officially thinks that girls are just TOO girly and making farting noises is hysterically funny. The boys in our neighborhood, regardless of their age, welcome him with open arms, he can hit a baseball off a pitch not a tee, make the basketball in an actual basket. He can brush his own teeth and wash himself up. He can open those stupid little plastic packages without my help and I trust him with scissors (unlike when he was 3 and cut his sister's hair).
Happy Birthday my *sweet* Cooper (sorry, I had to do it. I promise when you turn 7 I won't use that word to describe you anymore!!). You are a true joy, an absolute blessing and the most fun boy I can ever imagine being around. Your kind heart makes me sure that you'll be an amazing friend to many, the way you make us all laugh makes me confident you'll enjoy your life and always be happy, and the way you return the love we give you makes me absolutely positive that you will always, always be my sweet, sweet Cooper forever (there, I said it, just one more time). Happy 6th Birthday, Cooper!!!
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