A Letter to My Son’s Preschool Teacher

To my son’s first classroom teacher,

I saw you waiting for my child.

Every day you knew he was coming. And every day my preschooler jumped out the back seat ready for you as well.

I saw you welcome his learning, his humor, his self; allowing him to keep his tower up longer and longer each day…

I saw everything you did this year and I want to say thank you.

It didn’t go unnoticed.

Everything you did to make the transition to school seamless (not easy for a terrified four year old with a terrified mom) – you did it all and then some.

Thank you. 

Thank you for taking the time to call your students prior to the first day of school.  

Thank you for using phrases like “no worries!” rather than making mistakes seem unbearable. 

Thank you for redirecting a seemingly difficult task into an opportunity to feel successful. 

Right now I have a little boy that is confident. One who enters the car barely able to contain himself on the seven minute drive home because he is anxiously awaiting the moment that he can dump out his backpack and show me everything inside. 

It is you I have to thank. 

Thank you for reminding me I have plenty of time. 

Plenty of time to stop and love him deeper when I’m least likely wanting to. 

Plenty of time to put one last LEGO on the mega-ship before rushing out the door.

Plenty of time to watch him learn in small pieces rather than learning against the clock.

Before you, my son was a smart boy worried to take on the next chapter. After you, I have a boy that reminds me life is one big adventure. If I don’t take the time to enjoy the little moments, they will pass me by, leaving me wondering how I could have missed them. 

And so I leave you with a nostalgic feeling that my first born is off to Kindergarten. 

Off to hear a new teacher share her wisdom and help him along his journey knowing that YOU paved his path to LOVE school. 

We leave you knowing that my son will better understand how to fill someone’s bucket with kindness. 

The little boy that was once frantic about school, now tells me he will ride the bus on the first day of Kindergarten! GASP!

Yep, not ready for that one! But so thankful he is. 

And most of all, thank you for being you. 

Next year, when times are tough and my boy’s anxiety surfaces again, we have a collection of memories stored in our minds sure to bring smiles to his face. “Remember when you were nervous about preschool? Remember how much fun you had?”

We owe it all to you. 

Thank you.

With gratitude,

Greyson’s Mom