I am now the very proud parent of a pre-k graduate. My bigger little excitedly sang her pre-school graduation songs all the while exposing her little pre-school tummy when she performed the song choreography. Think 18 little sets of hands raised above 18 little preschool heads to make 18 little O’s all while singing “Oh what a miracle we are!” It was precious. I cried. You would too.
As if that wasn’t enough to make my heart burst, my daughter even got a speaking part in the graduation ceremony. You know you are in full blown parenthood when you want to brag that it was your child that invited the auditorium to please stand and join them in the pledge of allegiance. “Hey, you know that kid that asked if you’d like to please stand and join her in the pledge of allegiance? That one was mine. Yup…”
But now that pre-k has come to an end, my bigger little is missing all that public school socialization. She wakes up wondering if it’s time to back to her class yet. While we’re watching movies, she’ll lean over and tell me she just really misses her class and teachers. Now I’m a teacher myself, and as a teacher there is a large part of me that is so appreciative that she loves school so much. I’m grateful she’s had a great first year at school and I know that I have her teachers to thank for her wonderful pre-k experience. But there is also small teacher part of me that’s screaming full blast “NO! Summer break just started! We aren’t ready to go back yet. We need more time together! I need more time to mentally prepare for seventh grade again!”
My solution is to busy her up with activities where she can be around kids her own age as much as possible. We are doing the summer reading program at the library. We are doing pre-k pottery class (I didn’t know art could be this darling)…. and we are doing Tee Ball.
This summer has been my very first Tee Ball experience. I never played myself and this is my oldest child, so we’re talking ultimate rookie status. I had no clue what I was getting myself into. The back of my car is now laden with all the Tee Ball gear a five year old could ever need. I’m talking teeny tiny cleats, teeny tiny glove, itsy bitsy bat, knee high purple zebra striped socks, visor, batting helmet – which turns out is probably the most necessary item, seeing as how my bigger little has a knack for hitting herself and her coach in the head with the bat- jerseys, knee length black baseball pants in a size teensy weensy, and a Little Mermaid water bottle. After all, especially on a Tee Ball field, a princess needs her hydration.
The best thing about Tee Ball is that they don’t keep score. That way it isn’t any particular player’s fault if the team doesn’t win. See what I’m getting at? The more I watch my girl play, the more evident it becomes that her passion truly lies in the performing arts. When she’s on base she’s on her tippy toes doing some serious ballet moves. When she’s in the outfield, she excuses herself to the far outfield. You know, just as a precaution. I think the thing that puts our Tee Ball experience into perspective the best is that on two separate occasions as I’m sitting next to another mother watching our girls play, I’ve been asked where my daughter takes dance classes. She doesn’t. She’s self taught and is using this particular inning to perfect her arabesque.
Luckily her coach is all things patience and we both know she’s not going to college on a softball scholarship. In the mean time, she’s learning to principles of the game, which I’ve read somewhere is what Tee Ball is all about anyway. And she’s also socializing with old friends making new ones, even if that means distracting every single person they put next to her.
Child Goose Chase 