Daniel happened to have the morning of Morgan's first day of school off. In a phone conversation earlier in the week, I asked him if he wanted to stay home with Charlotte or if he wanted to go with me to drop Morgan off for her first day. He promptly replied saying that he very much wanted to go with me to drop her off. It made me smile that he was so eager to go with us. Knowing it was something HE really wanted to do made it even more special. I love our family, our unit and our unity.
The morning of Morgan’s first day of school was beautiful! I really wasn't expecting much and was blown away at how it turned out. I woke up extra early to get myself ready and then have pancakes waiting on Morgan when she woke up. I went in, woke her up and watched her waddle out to eat her pancake. I placed a candle in it and told her to make a wish for the year.
Later, while she was getting ready in the bathroom, Daniel asked her what she was doing that day to which she replied, “Going to Kindergarten.” He asked her what that was and she said, “school”. Then he asked her what she was going to do at school and she said “learn”. He was visibly pleased with her answer. Makes me smile just picturing the moment.
Both Daniel and I took lots of pictures of her and then we headed out to drop Charlotte off at daycare before taking Morgan to her class.
We pass Morgan’s school on the way to Charlotte's daycare. Morgan commented that all the kids had backpacks and then she looked down at her backpack between her feet. I loved looking at her face and seeing her contemplate her very own backpack. She’s been asking for a backpack and lunchbox for years. I made a point to NOT buy her one until she started school so that it would be extra special.
Thankfully, Daniel thought to have Charlotte wave goodbye to Morgan as she headed into daycare. It was so sweet and sad at the same time. Charlotte was waving goodbye and saying, “bye” to her sister with this somewhat confused look on her face. Up until now Charlotte has been with Morgan all day, every day of her life. I was sitting in the car with Morgan as she waved goodbye to Charlotte and it was so sad because you could tell it was hitting her. She said to me, “So Charlotte is going to go to daycare without me?” I said yes, and Morgan again said, “So I’m going to school and Charlotte is going to daycare without me?”
Once at school, Daniel parked the car and got Morgan out of her car seat. As he helped her put her backpack on he asked her if she knew how and he had her show him. He was making sure she was as prepared as she could be. We walked together to her class. We stopped by the room where she’ll go for after school care so we could drop off her lunch.
It’s called Campus Club.
We arrived to her class and the door was still shut.
I felt relieved that we had made it on time. I had a lot to do that morning with making her breakfast, her lunch, preparing her snack, making sure she had her supplies, backpack, apple for the teacher, etc. I was so thankful Daniel was there to help me! We took pictures and talked.
Morgan’s teacher, Mrs. Moua, opened her door and Morgan was the first one in. She went in with no hesitation and lots of excitement.
After looking at this picture, I guess she was a little wide eyed.
The other teacher who will be in her class helped Morgan get her name tag on.
Awwwww…..it was so sweet! I can’t explain the emotions that are washing over me just thinking about it! After her name tag was on (which she was excited about because it was a sticker), she was instructed to find her cubby so she could put her backpack in there. Daniel and I walked over and helped her and took more pictures (of course)!
She was just so eager! Daniel kept going over with her what the plan was for the day. He kept hesitating. It was as if he didn't want to leave. Daniel instructed her to go over to the rug and sit with her other classmates.
As I saw her sitting there kind of wide eyed I once again thought back to the day she was born and the fact we almost lost her. Before I knew it, I had a lump in my throat and my eyes were filled with tears. I was shocked at my reaction! I didn't think her starting school would be such a big deal for me because it’s not like she’s been with me all day every day up until this point. Since I work, she’s been going to daycare since she was 4 months old! What I was feeling though was the fact that this day was monumental. This was a beginning to the rest of her life of sorts. This is SCHOOL! This is BIG! I just felt so grateful that she came through that first rough year of her life, health wise at least, and here she was sitting on the rug on her very first day of school. We've come so far and I was so thankful! My love for Daniel and getting to experience this with him made me fall more in love with him.
I looked around and a couple of children were crying and clinging to their mother’s legs but most of the children were fine. We said our goodbyes.
All the while I was still trying to choke down that lump and fight the tears from falling. I felt embarrassed and stupid for being one of THOSE mothers! I've never really understood before why the first day of school is so emotional for parents. I've never judged them but I've never really understood it either. That is until that day. I finally got it.
Daniel and I walked back to the car hand in hand. I told him I was super emotional and I didn't hear exactly what he said but I could tell it was something along the lines of him telling me it was okay that I was feeling that way and then he said he himself was worried. He said he was worried that she wouldn't know what to do and that this was all so new for her and a lot for her to handle. My heart was swelling while he was talking. How sweet is it that my NOT super sensitive or super emotional husband was over there worrying about his little girl! The love, gratitude and joy I was feeling in that moment was overwhelming! How lucky am I that I got to be there experiencing something so important with the man who not only I deeply love but the man who loves our daughter as much as I do. Before getting to our car, we stopped off in the Campus Club room to make sure they had Morgan on the list to be picked up from her class. When we reached the car, Daniel opened the door for me, leaned in to give me a kiss and then shut the door before he got in himself to drive away from the school. I’m one lucky and proud mama and wife.
Morgan Irwin
4 years old
Transitional Kindergarten 2013-2014
Mrs. Moua
Freedom Elementary
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Best Friend - Candice
Favorite Thing To Do - Go to Mickey's Yogurt
Favorite Thing To Play - Xylophone
Favorite Color - Orange & Purple
Favorite Book - The Very Busy Spider (Because she likes to "read" it.)
Favorite Movie - Lion King
Favorite TV Show - Dora
Favorite Food - Mac & Cheese
When She Grows Up - Astronaut
Something She Really Likes - She's excited to be an Astronaut and go in outer space. She wants to be the captain and drive the ship. :)
Something She Doesn't Like - When people aren't nice.
Favorite Thing About Herself - Hair
Something She Wants To Learn About This Year - How to read.
