I Pray You'll Treat Her Well

** Looking at these pictures ~ wow ~ what a difference a year makes **

Yesterday was Jasmine's first day of Kindergarten (tear). It was a bit funny, my alarm went off and I laid there a moment thinking fifteen more minutes will be fine, then I jumped out of bed IT'S JASMINE'S FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN. My stomach was even a little fluttery like it used to be on my first day's back to school.

She got dressed and we did the usual first day of school pictures, then my digital camera went crazy again (have got to do something about that!). Luckily I bought a disposable one - just in case that happened so I don't have as many pictures to post as I would have liked. I walked her into class ~and took some more pictures~ she found her chair and sat down and started writing and finally looked at me, 'Mom, you can go now.' Now Jasmine has ALWAYS been Miss Independent, but it still took me by surprise. So I gave her a final 'have a good day', snapped a few more pictures and was on my way.

When I picked her up she was very happy and said her day was 'Awesome'. Didn't give too many details, but she did catch up with some friend's she went to Pre-K with.

Another fun story completely off subject - after I picked her up from school we ran to the local dollar store for cleaning supplies and such and upon checking out here is the conversation Jasmine held with the cashier:
JAS: Are you a Daddy?
CASHIER: yes
JAS: What's your daughters name?
CASHIER: I have three son's
JAS: What are their names?
CASHIER: 3 boy's names
JAS: Oh, those are nice names. Do you have a dog?
CASHIER: NO
JAS: Do you have a wife?
CASHIER: Yes
JAS: I have a brother, his name is Cash
CASHIER: That's nice
We are now leaving. As we get to the door Jasmine yells 'OH, my name is Jasmine. Bye'

She truly cracks me up.

Below are some pictures and a little something I read online the other day which I printed out and put in her SCHOOL MEMORIES book I have for her. The first day of K is so bittersweet!

BTW - she is very proud of this dress she picked out with birthday money from Grandma Kotter...

Dear World:I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two brown eyes...and a happy laugh that ripples all day long.. and a flash of brown hair that bounces in the sun when she runs. I pray you'll treat her well.

She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning...and skipping off down the street to her first day of school. And never again will she be completely mine.Prim and proud she'll wave her young and independent hand this morning and say "Goodbye" and walk with little lady steps to the schoolhouse.

Now she'll learn to stand in lines...and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called. She'll learn to tune her ears for the sounds of school-bells...and deadlines...and she'll learn to giggle...and gossip...and look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy 'cross the aisle sticks out his tongue at her. And now she'll learn to be jealous. And now she'll learn how it is to feel hurt inside. And now she'll learn how not to cry.

No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch on a summer day and watch an ant scurry across the crack in the sidewalk. Nor will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn and kiss lilac blooms in the morning dew. No, now she'll worry about those important things...like grades and which dress to wear and whose best friends is whose. And the magic of books and learning will replace the magic of her blocks and dolls. And now she'll find new heroes.

For five full years now I've been her sage and Santa Claus and pal and playmate and mother and friend. Now she'll learn to share her worship with her teachers ...which is only right. But no longer will I be the smartest woman in the whole world. Today when that school bell rings for the first time...she'll learn what it means to be a member of the group...with all its privileges and its disadvantages too.

She'll learn in time that proper young ladies do not laugh out loud...or kiss dogs...or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms...or even watch ants scurry across cracks in sidewalks in the summer.Today she'll learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. And I'll stand on the front porch and watch her start out on the long, lonely journey to becoming a woman.

So, world, I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two brown eyes...and a flash of brown hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs.

**as I finished cooking dinner, went to find Jasmine and had to run back for my camera**