Last night I blinked back tears as one of my sons graduated from kindergarten and the other was promoted into kindergarten.
The graduate:
The promoted:
The graduation ceremony doubled as an end of the year show based on Disney. Max and the other kindergarteners flung off their caps and gowns and reentered the stage as Mouseketeers while Jack and the other preschoolers were dressed as famous Disney characters. Jack was Bert from the chalk scene of Mary Poppins.
Max’s teacher got choked up when she proudly stated what she was, “I am a kindergarten teacher!”
This year I have made a new friend who is also a kindergarten teacher and she feels the same dharma-filled passion for her career. When her students beg her to follow them to first grade, her answer is always a resolute, “I love you, but absolutely not.” Some people are meant to spend their lives in the magical world of Grade K.
At the end of her speech Mrs. Peacock asked her babies to look at her as she gave them a final bit of wisdom from Dr. Seuss, who had served as the kindergarten classroom’s theme this year. She read from Oh the Places You’ll Go!, my favorite gift to give a newborn baby and a high school graduate alike.
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
You’ll look up and down streets. Look ’em over with care.
About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.”
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.
And you may not find any
you’ll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you’ll head straight out of town.
It’s opener there
in the wide open air.
Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen,
don’t worry. Don’t stew.
Just go right along.
You’ll start happening too.
OH!
THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!
Every year I have my foot in one grade and the next. Many kindergarten parents were sad at the end of an era. Graduation marks a change that will bring our children to the other side of the school and to the elementary school playground and schedule. My fellow PK-4 parents are largely anxious about the change to kindergarten, to full days and serious work. Are our babies old enough? we tend to wonder.
Me, I do a chasse.
My left foot leaps from kindergarten into first grade, at the same time my right foot lands in kindergarten.
For one more year.
The tears in my eyes last night were greatly outnumbered by the smiles that crossed my face. Besides, they weren’t sad or even wistful tears. I am so thoroughly content with who my children are, the stages they are in, and the school which has made them belong to more than just me, but to an entire community.
I am excited to move onwards and upwards with my two little boys.
OH!
THE PLACES WE’LL GO!
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