Wee Wildcats

Sissy's is a Wee Wildcat! Her future elementary school, right down the street from us, hosts a program for prospective kindergarden students (3s and 4s) to be able to come into the school and get a bit familiar with how things work . . . BEFORE the first day of kindergarden!

I was super excited to take Mattie. I thought it would be so fun to walk around the school and get to see some of the kids she will be in school with.

 She was very excited to wear her new Wee Wildcats t-shirt!

 I had been thinking in my head about how lovely it would be to walk her down to the school this morning (parents stayed with the kids).  But honestly, as we started walking down I started feeling a little nervous, and maybe even slightly sick at my stomach. I was panicking thinking about walking her to school for real one morning in a year and a half. I also started thinking about meeting parents of kids she might be going to school with her whole life! She enjoyed the walk though, and it was a beautiful day.

 We got to experience "music class" and "art class" designed just for them. 

 Sister had a pretty good time, although she was a little more shy and clingy than I thought she would be. She knew a few friends from her school though, and that helped. We also met a few new people.

 This is her art project :)

I found the whole experience to be great and also slightly overwhelming.  The great - the school is fabulous and I have only heard good things about it. Everyone we interacted with was super nice and I feel like it will be a great place to send Mattie.  The overwhelming - I can't even imagine sending her to kindergarden. I can't imagine sending her to a school with 730 kids, including 6th graders who are 11 or 12. I know this is the reality of elementary school, but today was the first time I really grasped it. I have never before questioned whether or not to hold her back or if her pre-school is adequate or anything like that. When we were in the classes, I found myself asking all the moms where there kids were in pre-school, how old their kids were, and checking out/comparing what all of the other kids were doing vs. what Mattie was doing. I found myself wanting her to be the shining star. This is made me aware that I am going to having to take LOTS of deep breaths and not be a psycho mom. I know Mattie is smart and funny and confident and she does not always have to be the shiniest star to become what God intends for her. I should just be hoping for her to be kind and loving to her classmates ;)

I know she will do great when it is time for her to go to kindergarden - I am just not ready quite yet!