Kindergarten to 12th grade

As we get ready for a new school year, I am reminded of a post I wrote as Lily was getting ready to enter Kindergarten. Here are a few excerpts from that blog entry:

"Kindergarten is looming in my future.  Oh, I mean in Lily’s future, of course.  I am feeling melancholy about what comes next for my little five year-old.  Will she be the best and the brightest?  Will she be outgoing and social?  Will she be creative and interesting?  Or will she become the class clown and make them all laugh?  

We are embarking on quite a journey.  A journey that at one time seemed so far off in the distance that I surely would need a clever pair of binoculars to see what lies ahead.  But, here we are on this course that will determine and mold so many aspects of my little girl’s future. 

I can’t believe that it was only five years ago that this bundle of love was perched atop of me in the hospital room.  I vividly remember the bubbles she blew while I touched her soft cheek.  My only thoughts then were of what I would do with her in the next five minutes and not the next five years.  Lily was the kind of baby parents would wish for.  She slept well, ate well, and discharged waste well.  Her path as a baby was sprinkled with sunshine and littered with happiness.  She was a delight.

When Lily turned two, her personality emerged with beautiful smiles, friendly giggles, and serious thoughts.  She was happy and strong-willed.  I like that combination in a person.  

We aren’t done learning from one another and the time and energy I have put into creating this little five year-old is not over.  We are ready for the journey that will take us down the halls of an old school building filled with love and character.  I will release this little gem on Thursday into a world of unknowns for both of us.  I am sure I will shed tears as she gathers up her backpack and lunch box and leaves me behind.  But, I will do so knowing that this journey has started with the best map of life I could give her.  And, I hope she will use that map to always find her way back to her mommy’s heart."

Lily---August 2005
First Day of Kindergarten

So, here we are, twelve years later. I can now see the future that I once wrote about and Lily has truly surpassed all of my expectations. She is all of the above: bright, outgoing, social, creative, interesting, and funny. When things got tough throughout the years, Lily got tougher. She faced challenges head on and grew from those experiences. 

She'll walk out the door tomorrow to head to her last year as a high school student and I feel confident she will do it in the same way she did on that first day of Kindergarten. With her head held high, her back pack on straight, and she'll toss me a wave as she confidently drives off to school. 

And, I'll wave back knowing now that she always finds her way back to my heart. Always.