Today I’ll be watching on as my first-born child graduates….from pre-school. I didn’t realize what a big deal this was until my son had his school photos taken earlier this year. This is what they sent home:
Totally cute, right?
Now, I didn’t go to pre-school so I can’t compare it to that, but I don’t remember any sort of pomp and circumstance when I moved up from kindergarten to 1st grade. I didn’t wear a cap and gown. I wasn’t handed a diploma. All I got was a final term report card and a slip of paper telling me who my teacher would be that fall.
My son’s ceremony will take place tonight at the local high school. For weeks he has practiced the “graduation” song and how to walk regally when his name is called to accept his diploma. The whole thing sounds kind of silly, but I know when his name is called, I’ll be bawling my eyes out.
Some of those tears will be of happiness – the joy and amazement of seeing how much my son has learned and achieved in just five short years.
Some of those tears will be of sadness – what happened to that tiny bundle that was handed to me at the hospital, the baby who didn’t crawl but scoot around the house on his tushie, the little person who depended on mommy for absolutely everything.
When I look at his graduation photo, I get a bittersweet feeling. I can see the excitement in his eyes and how he’s barely able to contain himself as he clasps his hands. It’s like he knows there’s so much more out there and ahead of him and he just wants to take it all on!
Like any mom, I want to see my child become a smart and independent person. Is it so wrong that I also want to keep him my baby boy, cute, innocent and always needing his mommy for just a little longer? I’m glad that he’s only going off to kindergarten and not college 
I am one very lucky and proud mama. Note to self: make sure to stick an entire box of tissue in my purse before heading out tonight!
Now it’s your turn to share. Are you celebrating any graduations of your own?
The Pomp and Circumstance…Pre-School Style by The Harried Mom, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.