I had forgotten. Getting old and boring does certain things to you, or so my girlies tell me, anyway. And maybe you suffer from a malady like mine. So let me remind you.
First of all, you asked your mum daily (at least) how many more sleeps it was until your birthday. You started asking when the number of sleeps was no less than 45. And 45 is such a huge number. Your mum may or may not have done this next part- but some mothers have done it. Don't judge. In order to help you visualize that indeed your birthday was coming closer, even though it didn't feel like it, she printed off a calendar (or made one- back in the dinosaur days when "computers weren't invented yet)." Then, everyday, as soon as you woke up, you'd run to the kitchen and cross off a day. Gradually and painfully, you saw progress. You saw the birthday cake sticker in the box representing your big day get closer, albeit slowly.
Big things were happening on that special day besides the obvious. You would finally turn the same age as your bestie. No longer would you be younger than her. And, it didn't make sense that you were younger than her when you were taller than her, anyway. Everyone, except babies, of course, know that the bigger you are the older you are. Humph. And, finally, on this blessed day, you'd be old enough to go to school. That is what your mum told you, and you were so excited to be a big kid who could do big kid things.
Finally the day arrived! A happy day! Filled with smiles and presents and cakes and candles and balloons and songs. A wonderful celebration filled with all of your favourite people. You went to bed that night feeling bigger somehow and wondering if you looked older to people around you. Your family ate your favourite meal for supper that night, even though your sisters didn't like it- they couldn't complain because it was your birthday! Haha on them. You had so many fun new presents that you were so excited to play with again. But you were exhausted from all the day's activities and you wanted to wake early the next morning, and you fell asleep as soon as your head hit the pillow.
The next morning you were up bright and early. You dressed as soon as you woke so you'd be ready for the day. You ran to find your momma and said with an excited voice several octaves higher than usual, "I'm dressed! I am five years old and am old enough now! I am ready to go to kindergarten!"
Your poor momma. She had to break your heart. Because, yes, she had said that when you were five you would get to go to kindergarten. She just never realized. She didn't think. Or maybe she forgot. When you finally get to be
five
you are
oh so....
literal.
So no, you don't need a lunch.
Or your backpack.
And no, we won't be going to school today for you.
What's that? Yes, you still need to wait for three months before you get to go to school.
How many sleeps is that?
About 100.
100!?!
And then, even though you were now a big kid and five, you just couldn't be big when you heard news like that. You have limits. You waited sooooo long. And, of course...
But Mum, you said when I turned five I could go to schoooooooooooooool!
And then you cried.
And cried.
And your momma, she just pulled you close and cuddled and held you, remembering when you were a tiny baby in her arms. When kindergarten seemed an eternity away. And she wished she could make it so you could go to kindergarten since it would make you so happy. But knew that she couldn't. And so she just held you close and rocked you a little and wondered why time had to go so quickly.
And she made you a new calendar for you to cross off the sleeps until you could *finally* and "for real this time" go to school.
Even though she didn't want to.
Not one bit.
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| blowing out candles |
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| the cake, sideways. a baseball and glove, of course |
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| look at her face! |
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| blowing them out again |
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| We went for a walk on her birthday. In her birthday outfit. The jacket, hat and glasses she picked out as her birthday outfit when shopping with me. And we picked dandelions. It was perfect. |
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So many dandelions!
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