Kindergarten

Dear Mason,
I just dropped you off at Coral Cliffs Elementary for your first day of Kindergarten. You were SO excited. You flashed a little "I love you" sign to me as you found your place in line, and I got a little teary eyed. I tried to be tough so you wouldn't be embarrassed. Your teacher came out to get you and your classmates and you all filed through the door in a straight little line of new shoes and backpacks. All of the other kids turned around to wave at their Moms and say goodbye one more time as they went around the corner, but not you! You were so ready to just get in there and go for it. You have always been like that. Not afraid to try new things and confident in yourself. I hope you never lose that. I hope as you learn that there are mean kids out there and people who don't believe the same things we do, you will still be just as confident. I am so proud of you Mason.

I remember the night we brought you home from the hospital. You cried and cried and I felt so helpless. I already loved you so much and wanted to protect you from the world and whatever was making you sad, but I didn't know how! Slowly, as I learned how to be a Mom, I figured out how to calm you down and wipe your tears and keep you safe. Today as you walked into that big school I had the same helpless feeling all over again. I don't know how to protect you from the mean kids, bad language, and other things of the world that you will surely run into during your time away from me at school! I don't know how to make you understand how truly special and great you are. So while you are there, learning to read and write and be a good friend, I am having a few lessons of my own. I have to learn AGAIN how to be the Mom and keep you safe and happy and protected, just in a different way. I'm sure I will still have to wipe a few tears. I'm sure you will make a few bad choices. I hope you know I will ALWAYS be there for you. I love you so much!

I can't believe what a neat young man you are turning out to be. You must have been such a strong spirit in Heaven. I know you have so much good to do here on earth! I learn so much from you every day. How to love unconditionally, how to dream, how to be carefree and enjoy life, and how to have faith. I can't wait to hear about this new adventure you started today. I hope I can help you become a good person and that you will continue to do the right thing always. You are a great example to your little brothers, and to me. I can't describe how proud I was, watching you walk into that classroom, giant smile on your face, ready to take on the world. You are an amazing child of God and I am so very blessed you call me Mom. I love you Mason! You changed my life the day we met and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Mom

P.S. These are just the pics from my phone. I'll post the ones from the camera later. :)

P.S. Again . . . He LOVED it!! He came RUNNING to me after school and gave me a big hug and said, "Mom, that was AWESOME!"

And Another P.S. One of my great friends from college teaches at Mason's school and she sent me this message today, "FYI- I spoke to his teacher today after school. When I mentioned Mason's name her face lit up and she got a big smile. She told me how today there were scraps of paper dropped on the floor and when she asked if someone could pick it up, Mason was the first one down on the ground even though it wasn't his. She knew then what a great helper he'd be this year!!!!" I teared up yet again. I am so proud of you Mason!!