Savannah was more excited about starting first grade than she was about Christmas last year. Savannah has been at home basically everyday for the last 6 years. She's been under the warm, cozy, loving glow of Aimee's omnipotent presence day in and day out. She's been protected, cared for and given attention but now it seems it's changing. She's now off by 8:30 and not back til 4:00 each day and even though I'm not at home to notice her absence it's odd knowing that she isn't with Aimee. And this will be the case for the next 12 years. Kindof scary to wonder if we've done everything to prepare her for this chapter of her life. I once heard that between the ages of 4-6 a child's brain is like a sponge. This is apparently the most optimum time to teach new languages, expose them to new activities, new sports, environments, etc. I hope she'll be a sponge and absorb all the wonders of first grade; like odd and even numbers, counting by 5's, telling time, and the Pythagorean Theorem.
As she leaves each day, I think of Emerson and Callie and can't help but think of the time they have at home before they start first grade. It doesn't depress or saden me by any means, just reinvigorate me—almost like drinking an ice-cold Pepsi.
