Dear Matthew

Dear Matthew:

Tomorrow you're going to start kindergarten.  And just so we both have a memory of how the day before you started went, I wanted to write you a little note.

You woke up at 7:30 this morning, crawled into bed with me, kissed me on the cheek to wake me up and said, "Mom!  I have to tell you something!  I'm so excited for tomorrow!" 

It probably should have started today.  You and Jack were a handful for me.  Seriously, do you have to throw things at each other ALL day long?  You got Jack good with a Lego and he clonked you with the Leapster.  Enough, boys.  Be kind to each other.

But it didn't.  So we spent the day together.  We went to my office and then we got soup and breadsticks for lunch.  We had to run a couple errands and then we just chilled together tonight. 

When you were in the bath, I brought you two shirts, one green and gray and one red and white and asked you which one you wanted to wear tomorrow.  Exasperated, you replied, "Mom!  I said to get me a new shirt."  You were appeased by my reminding you I got you new pants.  Then you chose the red and white one because "it's awesomer."  It really is, Son, good choice.

I tucked your excited little body into bed and it was your turn to choose the first song.  You chose "Down in my Heart."  ("I've got the JOY down in my heart...I have peace that passes understanding down in my heart...")  Again, excellent choice.  You are going to do just fine in kindergarten; you're a good decision maker.  It was a good day-before-kindergarten, Matthew. 

I got this note in your starting-school packet and it's a good reminder for everyone, so I'm going to share it here.  And with you as your life progresses.

Everything I Ever Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

Most of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do and how to be, I learned in Kindergarten...

Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt someone.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life.
Learn some and think some and point and sing and dance and play and work every day.
Take a nap every afternoon.

When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands and stick together.  Be aware of wonder.  Remember the little seed in the plastic cup. The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that...

-- Robert Fulgham

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Good luck tomorrow, Matthew. I'll send you off, and be waiting when they bring you back.  I am so proud of you.

Love,
Momma