Prescott Place

(Holding his Kindergarten packet after registration outside of his elementary school)

Several weeks ago I registered Nolan for Kindergarten. Kindergarten. I cannot shake it. I do not want him to go. I can barely count the number of months (which is 3 and a half by the way) without getting a lump in my throat. I just cannot believe it. I wish I was in denial. That would be easier wouldn’t it? Instead I think about it all. the. time. Nolan is more than ready to go. It is me that wishes I could refuse to let go.

I do not think when a new parent is told to cherish the time, that it will go quickly, that your child will be grown before you know it, that they believe that actually is the case. It is so TRUE! I can assure you it feels like yesterday that Nolan was born, that he started to crawl, said momma for the first time, started preschool, and so on.   As I prepare myself for this transition, I worry and fear I did not relish in the time we had together enough. I reminisce and wonder if I spent enough time with him. Did I put off the laundry and paying bills and cleaning the house like I should have? Did I remember to really enjoy these first five years of life? I don’t know. I feel like I have, but then I feel like I could have done better. I think my doubts are normal and to expected for many mothers who face sending a child to Kindergarten. I know this, but can’t stop myself! I just want more of “this” time.

I know he is just five and we have so many wonderful experiences and memories ahead of us, but what I cannot get past, is that it will never be like this again. It just won’t. From here on out I only have my precious boy on nights and weekends for nine to ten months of the year. This is not OK!

Yesterday I had a parent/teacher conference with Nolan’s teacher. She said with the utmost certainty, “Nolan is more than ready for Kindergarten. He could start tomorrow and will do well.” This is of course is what every parent wants to hear. And the truth is, Nolan is ready. I know it. James knows it. His teachers know it. Nolan knows it. He is very excited and very much looking forward to the new school year. (Of course I joke to myself that in many ways Nolan is naïve. Starting Kindergarten is just the beginning of years of homework, studying, tests, and so on. I will let the innocence live on a while longer. Soon enough he will discover that on his own).

Nolan has always had a positive experience in school. He loves to learn. He loves to be social (this definitely could be a negative according to his teacher yesterday too). He loves new experiences. He is ready. I cognitively know this. My heart just completely disagrees.

My neighbor friends in Bunko promise me that we will love his elementary school. They sing the praises of this school and the teachers. Every single neighbor I talk to goes on and one with great enthusiasm about what a great school Nolan will be attending. They assure me all of my anxiety and sadness about this transition will subside when they see how much Nolan enjoys school. Of course this brings me great comfort, but still. Still, I am not ready.

But I have no choice. I will suck it up and join Nolan in being excited about starting Kindergarten in three and a half months. <Gulp> We will have a great summer. I will cherish these months like I never have before. We will make the most of this special time, because in my mind it will forever be different after this summer.

I will walk Nolan proudly and confidently into school on the first day of school. I will, without a doubt, show him how excited I am for him. I will smile as I help get him settled. I will give him a great big hug and tell him to have a great day. I will smile all the way out of the building. And then I will cry.

A couple of weeks ago Nolan had his Spring concert and Open House at his preschool. Before I even arrived in the parking lot, I became teary eyed. So many changes on the horizon for him and I am having trouble adjusting to them. Nolan, on the other hand, could not be more excited and ready.

As to be expected, the concert was cute, funny, and quite entertaining. Nolan participated most of the time. Every now his enthusiasum for the singing (and hand movements) would fade, but then he would spring back to life. Such cherished memories for sure!

I cannot believe he is nearing the end of preschool. How is this possible?? Wasn’t it just yesterday I was in my first go round of preschool registration craziness? (Big old sigh! )

Here are the pictures from the evening.

On Friday I met one of my girlfriends and her two little ones at the zoo. We had a great time and ran the kids ragged!

Although Griffin has been to the zoo before, this was the first time he really was able to take it all in. When he saw the giraffes and elephants, this normally very talkative little guy, was speechless. He pointed and moved his mouth, but no words came out. It was too funny!

Click here for the pictures.

Today while in the car Nolan says,

“I see a taxi!”

He goes on to ask,

“but what kind of taxi is it? Is it a people taxi or a pizza taxi?”

Yes, Nolan calls the car driven by the pizza delivery person a pizza taxi.

When you stop to think about his reasoning, sort of makes sense doesn’t it?

1. He is a very, very picky eater. There are very few things he will eat, but somehow he manages to stay over the 85% for weight. Hmmm.

2. He absolutely adores “Bubba” (a.k.a. Nolan). He always looks for him, copies what he does, and says his name all the time.

3. He loves, loves, loves music and dancing. He constantly brings me my iphone so I can play him music.

4. He is very cautious in everything he does. He is not a risk taker.

5.He loves to sit on the couch.

6. He loves playing in the pantry, cabinets, and dishwasher.

7. His blankie is a cloth diaper (just like his brother’s was).

8. He is very stubborn and hard headed. James says just like me and I say just like him.

9. He may not like to eat, but he loves to drink milk.

10. When he says “mama” it either is a direct reference to me or is used if he wants something.

11. He loves to stack things and put things in containers.

12. He loves to look through books and have books read to him. His favorite author is Todd Parr.

13. Like his brother, he does not require a lot of sleep to function well. One two hour nap often means at least 30 more minutes awake in his crib before falling asleep at night. (Could we not have had at least one child that likes a lot of sleep?)

14. He loves to cuddle and be held most of the time.

15. He likes to wear sunglasses…. most of the time on top of his head.

16. He likes playing with cars (also just like Nolan).

17. He has a sweet tooth. He seems to have no pickiness to this. Go figure!

18. He loves to wear pajama bottoms during the day.

19. He knows how to work a few features on the iphone. (Technology and kids these days!)

20. He loves to ride in his push buggy.

21. He loves to brush his teeth. As soon as we say it is time, he says “Ahh.” When he take his toothbrush away, it is not pretty. Nolan calls it the “toothbrush battle.”

22. He loves to go up and down stairs.

23. It has become a toss up if he is a mama’s boy or a daddy’s boy.

24. He seems intimidated by men (except for James).

25. And finally, we have to be careful what we wish for. Now that he is walking, he does not want to be held when we are out and about. It becomes quite the battle when he must be carried. (Refer back to #8)