Ninja Turtle Girl and the First Day of Kindergarten

I'm on NPR!  You can hear this as Michiana Chronicle on WVPE 88.1 by CLICKING HERE!

My lunches have been lonely.  I mean, Libby is there, but one on one time is different than when it was Libby and Portia and I heatedly discussing how many carrots must be consumed.  Or like today as they make up "Nut Job: The Musical" at the breakfast table, the energy is just different.  I don't exactly mind it, but I feel unsettled.  

I wasn't going to be the clingy mama.  I knew Portia would rock out her first week of Kindergarten.  I want her to be gone all day so I can start trying to do some semblance of work.  So I can get alone time with Libby before she is gone to school too.  I didn't expect the first day of Kindergarten.  Not really.  

I almost cried (BUT DIDN'T) at drop off.  I felt the wave of emotion come and I turned to my friends and said "I think I am going to cry?".  When I looked back again, Portia was gone.  She made a beeline for the front door and stood there so excited she hovered above the ground.  She was closer to the door than the school Principal who had to open it when the bell rang.  My tears receded, unshed.

At pick up I was anxious.  I paced and stood about six different places and was so eager to see Portia, to hear about school.  I wanted to make sure she could see me.  I didn't want her to feel overlooked or forgotten.  When the bell rang, she came out.  She saw me and then just gave me the 'cool wave'.  You know, the subtle, embarrassed, low and close to the body wave a mortified teenager might offer a clingy mom?  Yeah, my five year old gave me that.  And kept walking!  Not towards me.  She had her eye on some older boys heading for the buses.  The boys were playfully slinging their backpacks at each other as she watched. 

You know how you raise your kid, and you wonder what will stick when they are out in the world on their own?  I'm kind of strict.  I am proud of the way my children behave most days.  I'm a little controlling and I like nice manners.   They help around the house and all of that.  That first day of kindergarten I learned what would happen when Portia was cut loose: MAYHEM!  I watched Portia and the gleam in her eye as she followed the boys and slid her backpack off her back.  She grinned and ignored me as she tried to hit the last of the playing boys with her Ninja Turtle backpack.  

I was first embarrassed to see her hit a kid (Or try, she totally missed).  But I was also proud of my tough girl who thought playing with the big boys was on her daily plan.  I delighted in the focused, engaged intent in her eyes as she joined in their game.  She didn't act the way I wanted her too, but maybe her way was better.  I was a proud mama.  I did correct her later at home.  I reminded her that she is Portia Novak no matter where she goes and she knows the right way to behave.  She is growing. She is not at my lunch table any more, but I look forward to hearing her stories about who is.  Maybe we can sing a musical about it?

Please LIKE my "Heather Novak, Speaker" Facebook Page!



Visit Heather Novak's profile on Pinterest.