I feel a sense of sadness today on Ellie’s last day of school. I felt a similar kind of sadness when the school year began, but that was all about me and having to let go of my baby. This time I around, I am sad for Ellie. I wonder what it will be like for her to lose her routine, to no longer see the teachers she adores, and to have limited contact with her classmates. In the midst of all the transitions we face this summer, I long for her to have this one secure, reliable, and predictable aspect of her life. We’ll all be finding our way, and I am sure as a resilient child she will be just fine, but I can certainly wish the timing were different.
I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Ellie’s school experience. The teachers have been incredible and I am grateful that she enthusiastically goes to school and often asks to go on her days off. The teachers wrote a letter to the parents describing their favorite memory of each child. For Ellie, they said they recall her naming everyone upon arrival at school. It is such an accurate description of Ellie’s memory, her friendliness, and her fondness for connecting with others. There is no way to quantify the social and academic (at a 2-year-old level, of course) growth that has occurred. However, I know it was far more stimulation and enrichment than we could have provided on our own. We look forward to another great experience for her next year.
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