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It is the big day – Jackson is graduating from preschool!
Of course, before I had children the thought of a graduation ceremony for preschool seemed ludicrous. I mean – it is preschool. Let’s get this under control. But now of course, I am an emotional, pregnant mother watching her first born race through his young life.
So instead of scoffing, I am shopping for clothes, charging camera batteries and nervously checking my son’s temperature, obsessed that a virus will show up just in time to ruin it all.
Last night, I took Jackson for his “graduation haircut.” I really need to get a small digital camera that I can discreetly hide in my purse, because I tend to not tote my digital SLR to hairdressers. And I really wish I had captured the look on my son’s face – grimacing as he watched the hairdresser ignore his clear instructions to cut him “spikes.” He was completely disappointed that he was not ending up with his idea of what he wanted his hair to look like.
All I could think about was how he had grown into a boy, asserting his own opinions about hairstyles. It was only a few haircuts ago that my biggest concern was getting him to sit still. I made all the decisions about what he was going to look like. Now he is in charge!
Since Jackson was a “January baby” and is already five and a half, in many ways he outgrew preschool months ago. In fact he is so ashamed about still being in preschool, he refuses to admit to older children that he is not yet in kindergarten. (I have had quite a few stern talks with him about lying, but he simply says, “I am not telling them that I am in preschool.”) So it is a huge relief for Jackson to leave preschool behind. He will be tossing his cap in the air with as much enthusiasm as a high school grad.
And I am not really sad either – just emotional. I am so grateful to have witnessed my precious baby grow into a boy and I am excited to see him enter this new stage of life. It is an honor to be a mother – and I am just so grateful for every sacred moment.
So today, alongside eighteen other mothers, I will be wiping away tears as I zoom in with the camera, trying to preserve every last second of my baby’s life.
I will update later with photos, of course. But with the classroom crammed full of relatives, I am not sure what kind of shots I will be able to get!
Now I better stop chatting and get out the door…
Twisted Cinderella says
Princess is a five 1/2 year old January baby as well. I can’t beleive my little girl will be going to kindergarten soon! She has been asking to go for months now.
melody says
Jackson, I hope you tossed that cap really high. Congratulations! I agree with you, preschool is so yesterday. 🙂
tanyetta says
that is so sweet. i still remember the day my daughter graduated from preschool with a cap and gown.
hoooooooow sweet and perfect. your son sounds like a genius. 🙂
proud momma! you should be 🙂
Janne says
Very sweet. (((hugs)))
Tammy and Parker says
Can’t wait to see the pics!
My Quotidian Mysteries says
I’m with you! I used to think all that graduation stuff was so ridiculous. Oh goodness, my 10-month old just “graduated” (come on, people) from her waterbabies/diaper dips swimming class, and she even got a certificate. (Sniff!) I was so proud. Thanks for sharing!
Lu says
How sweet!
Lissete says
I remember pre-school graduations as weel. For the record, I did cry! 🙂
Susanne says
Sweet post. I remember those feeling very well. Only my duaghter had kindergarten graduation. The other two went to a school where they didn’t do that.
Jennifer, Snapshot says
I hadn’t made the connection that our two sets of kids were the same age span. When Amanda graduated from preschool (at age 5 1/2), I was in my last trimester pregnant with Kyle!
Also, I will say that I did not cry at graduation, but the last time I dropped her off, I bawled. I’m not sure why, but I did.