Dear Ms. Peaches

Dear Ms. Peaches (name change for privacy),

Today, you will meet a very special person. He is the sweetest little boy I know, although I am bias. His big brown eyes will melt your heart. I have never seen eyes that can light up as much as his. He will want to make you laugh and he will feel terrible if he upsets you, but I know that won't happen, because he is a good boy.

This morning when my husband went to wake him up, my little boy said, "I didn't know we had to wake up this early." From there it was a fight to get him to get dressed. Maybe the reluctance came from the red shirt and khaki pants, and the pure fear of being out of his comfort zone. I battle for about ten minutes, and then like a switch, he decided he wanted to go. He got dressed, and breakfast and then off we went.

Ms. Peaches, I am sure you are a great teacher, but with this being my first baby off to kindergarten I am a little sad. Have I taught him everything he needs to know? Will he be nice to the other kids? Will they be nice to him? All the new-kinder-mommy fears. On the way to the school this morning I grilled him about raising his hand if he hand to go to the restroom, and not to wait to long. Then I grilled him on other things, and then it dawned on me, maybe I was more nervous then he was! I needed him to know something very important, so I asked, "what do you do if you get really scared or nervous at school?" And very calmly my little boy said, "we can say a prayer". Because my little boy knows that Heavenly Father will help him no matter where he is, I know that he will be just fine at school today.

We walked quietly to your classroom, and he didn't say a word. He found his locker, #20, and as if he had done this before, hung his lunchbox on one hook and his backpack on the other. He quietly found his desk, and with an unsure confidence sat down and began to color. I asked if he was okay and he just shook his head. I gave him a kiss on the forehead and with my aching heart I walked quietly out of the room. I want you to know, Ms. Peaches, that it wasn't easy. A mother's heart just doesn't retract on a whim. So, all I can do now is trust you, Ms. Peaches, to keep him safe and teach him all he needs to know.

Sincerely,
Coda's proud-nervous-happy-frantic mother