I said goodbye to Ella last month. (Well, not really goodbye - more like "see you soon".) She is off to kindergarten in the fall. It seems like the year we spent together went by at whirlwind speed. All of the mornings spent baking and writing and drawing and painting and building and exploring and adventuring out into our city to see the animals and swing on the swings and smell the flowers. Oh, am I going to miss her.
In some ways, my year with Ella was also my year to say goodbye to Leslie's childhood and all that that meant to me. I think both Leslie and I got to re-live her childhood through Ella this year. Bringing out much loved dolls from the back of the closet. Remembering the best way to build a house for the fairies in the garden. Finding the little tea set in the china cabinet and dusting it off for a teddy bear tea party. Leslie is moving into the world of adult things now and getting ready to cast off on her own. This year was our goodbye party.
And so - I begin again. A new job seemed to fall into my lap just as I needed it. A new school. Reggio inspired. A new classroom of littles to love and to nurture and to take my mind off my girl leaving in a year.
Hoping to post more this year. Not sure why my heart wasn't in the blog last year. I guess I was in my head too much to be able to share. See you soon.
Love, Kathy