The monkey can’t wait for her first day of preschool. I chatted with my niece and nephew, who are going into Grade 7 and Grade 3, and under no circumstances are they looking forward to the start of school.
But my girl has been counting down the days until the start of preschool since the beginning of August. She has made pictures for her preschool teachers and picked out her outfit already (She did this three weeks before the start of preschool).
The monkey looks longingly at school supplies and asks if she needs any more. Or, "Mommy," she says, "I might need this new shirt to wear to school." And yes, I’m pretty sure she’s still just four years old.
She also has asked me many times if she should try on her snowsuit to see if it still fits, and she’s anxious to get her skates out. I know she’s daydreaming of catching snowflakes on her tongue on her way to school.
If winter comes early this year, please don’t blame my child. I’m pretty sure the seasons aren’t swayed by wishful thinking — good thing, or she would be out in the yard doing snow angels right now.
I’m not sure what her hurry is. I know she’s itching to wear her new Rapunzel Halloween costume.
But the monkey can’t wait to get back to preschool. This will be her second year there on account of her birthday falling too late to start kindergarten with some of last year’s friends. But enough of her friends are also going back to preschool for a second year.
So I think perhaps she’s just gotten bored playing with mom and dad. She’s had some play dates here and there, but it’s been a busy summer full of going to the park, gardening, visiting family here there and everywhere and squeezing every little bit of fun into summer that the better half and I could possibly muster.
Maybe we squeezed too much fun in and she’s craving the routine of school and dance and swimming lessons so she can have a break from us! (Well, maybe not when she’s four, but I’m guessing that will be coming sometime down the road.)
Or perhaps it’s because she is looking forward to all the fun she knows we will have this fall and winter. She remembers from last year how much fun Halloween was and how much she liked making snowmen and tobogganing down the neighbourhood hills with her dad.
Now if we could only be more like my monkey — an optimist, enjoying the moment but so looking forward to the next. I’m sure going to try.
And winter — maybe it’s not so bad when you think of it in terms of catching snowflakes on your tongue or skating down the beautifully lit skating oval and snuggling under the blanket with hot chocolate after. Winter actually sounds pretty good that way!
Kyla Henderson is a local freelance journalist, business owner and mommy. Her column runs every week in the Community News.
» kyla@lilbitbaby.ca
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition September 6, 2012
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Posted by:Bill Henderson
September 8, 2012 at 4:57 PM
Kyla,beautiful article, boy that sure brings back memories! This is coming from a grandparent, who didn't realize at the time what a beautiful experience I was seeing and having! I wish I had your skills in writing and talking the way you write!!! It would have made my mother so happy if I could have described her granchildren the way have! Just because we have the same last name has not influenced my comments!!!