My oldest, Samuel, entered Kindergarten yesterday last month last August.  It was a tremendously, tremendously difficult time for this Mama.  He’s my first, so naturally I was anxious, but Samuel is also extra special in a few particular areas, and I was nervous how that was going to play out in a classroom where I wasn’t able to help reign him in or help him adapt. 

I found out two weeks before school started, literally as I stood in the office to register him for school, that he would be going to ALL DAY Kindergarten.  ALL DAY.  Over SIX hours a day, gone from us.  SIX HOURS, every day, where I was NOT in charge of what he did, what was done to him, and what he was learning.

(Ok, why am I not homeschooling??)

(Sorry… small breakdown averted there… back to Gratituesday.) 

After I had a mini (haha) meltdown in the school office, (lucky school secretaries!) I spent the next two weeks praying continuously for Samuel, for his teacher, for the students in his class…. and uh.. yeah.. for myself.

God is SO good, because he heard my prayers (well, He was probably WAY ahead of me), and he gave Samuel a really, really good teacher.  Miss Franklin has worked with him and with us from Day One, and I know she truly cares about him and the rest of his class.  She has spent a LOT of extra time talking with me after school about situations, about Samuel’s progress, about nothing at all.  She has been a friend to me and I can’t tell you how comforting it’s been through this first year of school.

Today, we are all going to watch Samuel’s class (along with about 80 other Kindergartners) perform their “we’re moving on up to 1st grade” program.  I only know it’s about “moving on up” because I’ve heard him practicing the songs they are going to sing.  Oh, it’s going to be PRICELESS, believe me.  I’m already crying, and we’re not even there yet.

Last week, Miss Franklin helped Samuel sing one of the songs for me after school.  She patiently guided him through the words and reminded him as he went.  She didn’t rush him, and was proud of him when he was done.  That was two minutes out of a school year, but it’s exactly the kind of teacher she has been all year long.

So, today… on the day before my son’s LAST day of Kindergarten… I’m thankful for Miss Franklin.  She helped us get through a really crucial year.  She helped Samuel grow and learn and mature.  She gave him confidence in himself and she made school fun.  I’m pretty sure Miss Franklin is Samuel’s fourth or fifth favorite person in the whole world. 

Thank you, Miss Franklin!

Are you thankful for something today?  Head on over to Laura’s blog at Heavenly Homemakers, and leave a comment or leave a link to your own Gratituesday post!

Tags: Gratituesday, kindergarten