Dear Kindergarten Teacher

Dear Kindergarten Teacher,

The day has finally arrived. My tiny baby girl is officially a big kid, starting big school, and I am entrusting a large piece of my heart into your care. There are a few things you should know. 

While my daughter may appear tiny in size, she is mighty in spirit, energy, and spunk. She can hold her own and will dig her heels in if she believes in something. Please allow her the space to keep her strong will and determination while helping her navigate this new world. Please don’t assume that just because she is small in stature that she can’t do big things. She can climb the big slide, score a soccer goal, dance until she is dizzy, and change the world with the best of them.

Photo by Victoria Denney

I know she is smart. She has practiced her sight words all summer and can recite math facts forward and backwards, but there are a few things that still remind us just how little she still is. She calls a tissue a “bless you” and will ask for a bless you when she sneezes. She will ask for “hanitizer,” too. While I understand that the goal is to teach her to speak well and to help her learn, if you could please just let these few things slide, just for now. I know that eventually she will correctly ask for a tissue and hand sanitizer, and will learn that it is pronounced “yesterday” and not “lesterday,” but for now these things are small precious reminders of her sweet innocence, and I’d like to keep that a little while longer. 

We have tried our best to make sure that our daughter knows that it is better to be an includer rather than an excluder. Please keep encouraging her to include those who are sitting on the outside of the circle. At the same time, please know that she is an incredibly empathetic and sensitive child. Please watch out for her and remind her that it really is okay to not be friends with the kid who keeps making her cry. It is okay to tell someone no when they are doing something you don’t like. And that she is allowed to stand up for herself. Sometimes she may need that extra push to know that while it is important for her to be kind, it is also important that she protects her own heart and body, too.

Photo by Victoria Denney

While I like to think my child is the smartest, kindest, most amazing kid you will ever teach, I know that most other parents feel the same way. Please don’t be afraid to tell me that my perfect angel of a child made another kid cry, talked too much during quiet time, or threw an epic tantrum in the middle of announcements. I will work with you to encourage her to be kind, listen more, and to just chill out. 

I am my daughter’s biggest cheerleader, but I will also be your biggest supporter. I appreciate how much time and energy you put into your students and classroom each and every day. Your dedication, hard work, and care does not go unnoticed. Be sure to reach out when you are running low on dry erase markers, parent volunteers, or coffee. I’ll be easy to reach. I’ll probably be the one sitting in the parking lot crying that my baby is now a big kid.

With the best wishes for a fantastic year, 

Madeline’s Mom

 

Victoria
Victoria is a wife and mom of two. Her firstborn, Joshua passed away shortly after birth in 2013. Her rainbow daughter, Madeline just started kindergarten. Victoria and her husband, Patrick, were both born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri and love spending time exploring the city with their daughter. Victoria is a full-time working mom, dance mom, soccer mom, t-ball mom, PTA mom, slightly over-scheduled mom. Victoria has a passion for creating and spends way too much time pinning new crafts, recipes, and party ideas on Pinterest. She sometimes blogs over at Life with Madeline - www.lifewithmadeline.com