Six years ago, August 2001, I officially began our homeschooling career as First Born reached kindergarten age. I had done a few Five in a Row units earlier that calendar year to assure myself that homeschooling was feasible for someone so disorganized as myself.
I thought that it would be poetic to begin his "real" kindergarten career with the FIAR title The Very Last First Time. So off we went to Ungava Bay to hunt for mussels, look at Inukshuk, and practice calm thinking in emergencies.
As we went through those first days of kindergarten, I became I aware I wasn't feeling so well, and by the end of the week, I headed out to buy one more pregnancy test. It was positive. (The others I had pulled out of my cabinet and taken were negative. Never use an out of date pregnancy test!!)
Today I declared the first official day of kindergarten for that little life that was just beginning to flutter within me when his brother was the one standing there having his picture taken. And though I did not choose to use that particular book to open the year (because I think a 5 year old boy just really needs to do Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel), today really is the very last first time. The very last first day of school. And soon enough it will be the very last first book he reads by himself and the very last first lost tooth.
What a blessing to have a fourth chance to experience all those firsts. How will I learn to live without them?
Comments
Aug. 27, 2007 - Good stuff!
Posted by kcmyworld
I've enjoyed reading your recent posts. There's no way you qualify as a shallow mind!
Robin
Oct. 20, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
What a heart tugger! And to think my very last first time came and went and I didn't even think of it! Just as well, I might have spent the day in tears!