Kindergarten: The Beginning of the Beginning

I feel like there should be something really profound to express here about Holden's first day of kindergarten. But I've got nothing. I'm all the usual things a mom should be on such a landmark day for her kid - happy, proud, a bit nervous. Aside from that, the day felt suspiciously like many others in its past.

Holden started two days ago at the Washington Elementary School Child Development Center, where he will go before and after his afternoon kindergarten class. Riley started there several weeks ago in the pre-school, and we've thus far been satisfied with out experience. So dropping Holden off on his first day of kindergarten was not how I always pictured it would be, or how I remembered mine oh so many years ago. For us, there were no tears, leg clinging, pictures by his cubby and lingering waves and blowing kisses. It was our usual "see ya later alligator," and I barely got a kiss good-bye as the kids were eager to run off and play cars together.

So, while the day itself didn't seem very momentous, I can't help but think about all this means for all of us in the long run. The long run being the next 17 years or so. It's been nearly 15 years since I graduated college, and left things like homework, scheduled vacations and emergency contact forms behind. Now, all I see is a life defined by these things - multiplied when you factor in all the responsibilities and activities that come with this time of life: PTA, soccer, religious school, scouting and whatever other sports or extra-curricular activities likely to come our way. It's overwhelming, honestly.


But, for the first time in nearly 15 years, I'm also experiencing what it's like to have life defined by child, family and community. Sure, we'll be a slave to the still non-existent weekend AYSO schedule for the next few months and we'll have to think hard about taking off for three-day weekends in the middle of April ... but we are looking forward to watching the kids learn, play and have fun with what we hope will be a whole new batch of friends. We've already started feeling the community a bit in our new townhome complex, where we are surrounded by kids who are starting to get to know each other, and we get to know the adults.

This must be what it means to plant roots. The last few months has felt like soil tilling. Today, a little seedling got plopped into the fresh dirt. It's going to be a thrill to watch it grow and blossom.