Your First Day of Grade 1

Katherine, today was your first day of grade 1… wow you’re my big “little girl” now!

We spent a fabulous summer together filled with adventures and a big 3-week trip to Germany. During our trip you experienced a lot of German traditions and you learned about a very special custom, one that you really wanted to be part of: the “Schultüte”… a special cone that’s given to a child on the first day of first grade in Germany, filled with treats, school supplies and toys. I grew up with this custom, and so did your daddy and I had planned for a long time already to carry this tradition forward on your first day of first grade. But even with travelling to Germany this summer, brining one of the ready-made cones back was just not feasible as it was too large & bulky for our luggage. But I did have a chance to have a close look at the ones in Germany, so when we returned I started a little craft project and made you your very own Schultüte and filled with with German chocolates, toys, pencils and erasers… and surprised you with it on the morning of the first school day.

As we took photos of you with your Schultüte, I realized that it was almost bigger than you (that wasn’t planned, but can happen when a mommy works on a surprise project late nights with no kid as size comparison). The smile on your face and sparkle in your eyes was priceless - what a perfect start to your first grade school year!

In Germany we have a saying that “mit der 1. Klasse beginnt der Ernst des Lebens” (that translates to „in first grade begins the seriousness of life“. I have heard this lots during our trip and I have to admit, I don’t agree with that statement – first grade should be about discovering learning and having fun with it. Dropping you off at school this morning – your face was beaming with excitement… and picking you up at the end of the school day – your face was still beaming with excitement! I am so excited for you for this year.

You are teaching me that life never needs to be as serious as old sayings make it sound. My wish for you is that you remember that there is always time to laugh, to be curious and to be excited about the little things in life! That there is always time to be silly, to read one more book, to have one more meaningful conversation. I love you always and forever.

Last Day of Kindergarten

Katherine, today was your last day of Kindergarten. It seemed like only yesterday that we dropped you off on your first day… I remember the last night before school started you had a hard time sleeping; you were worried about being at a new school, with new children and new teachers. You held daddy’s and my hand tightly as we dropped you off for the first time. But you needn’t worry because you made great friends and your teachers were nothing short of amazing in leading you this past year. I watched you thrive and become a confident little girl, and every morning when daddy and I dropped you off at school you gave us both a big hug, a kiss on the heart and told you that you love us… and then you turned around and walked away – towards your friends, learning and play.

I have quietly watched you walk away many mornings, watching you as you are growing up and becoming more independent, but knowing “there is always time for a kiss and a hug” (you tell me this often!)

At your school’s year end ceremony today every child was recognized for their areas of excellent improvement. You received your award for “reading and applying your understanding of new concepts”… I am so proud of you! You have discovered a love of learning that I hope stays with you throughout every day of your life.

You are teaching me that life is ever-changing;  to live every day with confidence, love and compassion… and that “there is always time for a kiss and a hug”. I love you always and forever.

My Superhero

Katherine, today was superhero day at your school… the challenge was to show up with your super powers, and dress the part too!

You didn’t hesitate long to decide that you wanted to be “Superhero Katherine”. A couple of years ago, I made you a superhero cape (pink, of course!) and that’s what you proudly wore today – along with a beautiful pink shirt with lots of hearts on it (and your superhero mask of course… every superhero needs a cool mask!)

You explained to me that as Superhero Katherine your superpower is LOVE. And you giggled as you told me that, because now it was time for you to share your real secret with me… “love isn’t just my fantasy superpower, it’s my real power”. Yes, it is my little girl – LOVE is truly your superpower – I see that in you every day!

You are teaching me that we can all be superheros (and maybe we should all wear a cape once in a while to remind us of that). When you were dressed in your real-life-superhero costume this morning, you looked up at me and said “I wish I could fly and a trail of hearts would come from my cape and spread all around the world”. You leave a trail of hearts wherever you go! I love you always and forever.