Blue Skirts and White Shirts

Sydney started kindergarten today. I pretty much kept myself together (unless of course you count the blubbering at midnight the night before.) I must say, I was very proud of her. She didn't know a single person in her class, all of her little playmates were in another class and she rose to the occasion! She was on a first name basis with all the little girls by the time I picked her up and over dinner told me everything she could remember about them (which turned out to be a lot!) She's excited to be a big girl and I'm excited for her.
I think I'm like most moms when their first goes to kindergarten. A few days ago I was pretty overwhelmed. I remember last week sometime looking at the neat little rows of crisp white shirts and navy blue skirts for her uniforms hanging up in her closet and having a bit of a panic attack. It's not so much that I didn't want her to grow up or that I didn't think she was ready, it's more like wondering if I have done enough. I wonder if I've taught her enough to keep up or stay ahead of the game. I wonder if I've done enough to make sure she knows how special she is and to not let anyone tell her otherwise. I try to remember if I've taught her enough about being respectful and how to make new friends.
Late last night when I was tossing and turning and trying to shut my brain down from thinking all of these thoughts, it finally occurred to me that I've only hit the tip of the iceberg. Her first day of kindergarten was not an ending to our time, but a new one. A time where I will get to see her grow and learn even more than before and I will have new opportunities to help her realize her amazing potential. Sure, I know it's not going to be all sunshine and roses. I'm sure we'll deal with school yard woes and bullies and bad test grades and hard subjects, but I'm excited for it. Bring it on, Elementary Ed! I (think) I'm ready for ya!!