As I sit here, holding back tears, I think about the previous blogs I’ve written in regard to preschool worries, after-school problems and kindergarten questions. Well, the day has come. I am getting ready to send my son, Cohen, off to kindergarten. I know he’s ready, but I am NOT!
When Your Child Is Ready, But You’re Not
It seems like just yesterday that I brought Cohen home from the hospital, but five years have past—and now he’s headed off to kindergarten. We’ve gone through the checklist of what he should know before entering kindergarten. He’s had his school physical, eye exam and dental check.
Again, HE is ready. He asks me every day when he gets to go. We even started a paper chain so he can count down the days. However, I’m not ready for kindergarten. I am a planner. I have my calendar full of schedules, and I hate surprises. Kindergarten for me is a surprise and surrounded by many questions.
Should he eat hot lunch or should I pack him a lunch?
Does he need to bring money for lunch?
Does he have the cool shoes and backpack?
Will he make new friends?
Will he like his teacher?
Will he be able to walk to his after-school provider’s home?
Will he get bullied?
So many questions race through my head. I’m sure this is the same for any new parent sending their child off to school for the first time.
How Parents Can Prepare for Kindergarten
My suggestion for every parent is to prepare. Get your questions answered before the first day. I asked several parents their opinions, and they reassured me that my questions were normal. I asked other moms the pros and cons of Lincoln Public Schools’ hot lunch program. One mom suggested that he take hot lunch the first week so he knows the routine. Another mom advised me to go over the lunch menu with him every Sunday. A coworker showed me how to apply credit to his hot lunch account online.
Another way to make it easier is to take the first day of school off from work. That way, you can really invest some time into both of you. I took Cohen out to breakfast and took him to school, and I wanted to be there to pick him up so I could walk with him to his new after-school daycare provider. I knew I would cry when I dropped him off, so I tried to distract myself—I even added more mascara to remind myself not to tear up until the car ride home. Just like preschool, I made it till after he walked into the school and then burst into tears.
Even though I wasn’t ready for kindergarten, Cohen was, and he had a great first day. He couldn’t wait to tell me all about it! That’s something parents should keep in mind when they’re worried about their kids growing up and going to school. It’s so exciting to watch them grow and discover more things.
And maybe next year I’ll be excited for a new school year…but I have a feeling I’ll be emotional every year!
Schedule a Back-to-School Exam
Avoid worrying about your child’s health by scheduling an appointment to ensure they’re back-to-school ready and prepared for fall, which often entails flu and cold season.
Mallory Connelly
Babies & Toddlers
In addition to the time I devote to being a mom, I also work full-time outside the home, which means my day is hardly ever as simple as nine to five. With an all-too-established schedule, as soon as I walk through the door, my day doesn’t end, but rather just begins. It’s a balancing act, especially with two children, but being a mom is one full-time job that I never want to quit!
