I think I’m embarrassing my son with the wide variety of emotions I’m experiencing (and expressing) as his first year of school winds to a close.  He vacillates between watching with amusement as I cry while I read (and re-read) the very sweet letter his teacher included in his Jr. Kindergarten Memory Book to rolling his eyes at me and asking in a very exasperated voice, “Mom - WHY are you crying??”  

I don’t know what’s the matter with me.  I’m actually very excited for him to be finishing his first year of school, because it means he successfully traversed the halls of education for the past nine months, and it means that in just three more months he’ll be joining “the big kids” in full-day Sr. Kindergarten, a fact which causes him tremendous pride and joy.  I’m also terribly proud of him and all he’s learned this year, despite being in school for just 2-1/2 hours a day.  He went from pretty much only being able to write his name and count to 20 back in September to writing whole sentences and beginning to read, and a million other really cool things.  In the circumstances, you’d think I’d have a perma-grin on my face and be turning joyful, happy cartwheels instead of bawling at the drop of a hat.  

I hope Angelo can tolerate my emotional rollercoaster tomorrow as he wraps up his very last day. Unfortunately, as one of the two room moms, I have to be there at the end of the morning to help the kids present Miss G with her end-of-year gift, and I have a sinking feeling I’ll be a weepy mess in front of my poor child and all of his little pals.  Ugh… the shame….  

Oh well.  Better that my boy get used to it now, as I expect there will be PLENTY of occasions for me to cry and make a spectacle of myself at his school functions over the years to come.  (Can you imagine his high school graduation?!?  I’ll need to be sedated, you just watch.)

In all seriousness, here’s to a wonderful first year of school for Angelo, to a phenomenal teacher, and to a beautiful and fun summer to come!

P.S. I’m heading out of town tomorrow for a much-needed vacation and I don’t think I’ll have access to the Internet much (if at all) while I’m away, so here’s wishing all of you a great weekend and week, and I’ll catch up with you when I’m back on the 23rd!