Tribute to Preschool

6:15am, Wednesday, 5/25/11

I woke up this morning with knots in my stomach and I quickly realized what today was. I immediately started crying. Today is my last day of preschool. Ever. Today I am a full-on train wreck.

What is wrong with me? I’ve been counting down the days for months often coupled with a little celebratory jig “Oh yeah, all my kids will be in elementary school next year, it will be the year of the Plyms”. I’ve been quoted saying that I was planning a tennis/bon bon party on the first day of school in August along with a tennis match. I haven’t had the thought of this much time in a row (umm, can I just say 7 1/2 hours straight will rock my world?!) in 10 years. I know, way cool, right?! I have officially arrived. But deep down, I’m all talk. And today, I’m a mess. In a big way.

I’m seriously walking around in a state of shock. I can’t believe it. I have been at Sharon Presbyterian Weekday School (SPWS) for NINE years. This beautiful place nestled in the heart of SouthPark has been a second home for me and my children. It has been family for us, especially when we don’t have official family of our own within a 6-hour driving radius. I have grown old in this carpool line, I have sat through nine years of precious Christmas programs, sing-a-longs, camps, and have spent endless hours on that sweet little playground. And today, all of that is ending, only to be tucked away in their baby books.

Every single teacher that we have had at SPWS has given their heart and soul to my children. When we were in the toddler classes, I remember how proud the children felt cruising around in the tiered Bye-Bye Buggies. My boys just loved their beauty queen teachers (seriously, they still talk about them!). And when each one of my children were in Miss Betsy’s twos class, they came home with the sweetest Southern accent you’ve ever heard. (My hubby and I have no accents whatsoever.) The three’s and four’s classes allowed my children to flourish in their socialization, play date coordination (and let me tell ya, they can whip up a play date in two seconds flat!) and artistic skills. And the four’s/TK classes prepared them perfectly for kindergarten.

So here I am, #’s 3 & 4 out of the Plym posse and we’re closing this chapter in our lives. My babies have grown up here and it’s time to move on. That’s the sad part. Yes, I’m thrilled to get a little more time to myself come fall. And yes, my children are so ready to go to kindergarten. Time must go on. But I’d like to capture this age, for all of my children and jar it up in a bottle. Ages 5, 8 and 10 – they still think “My Mom Rocks”, they want to hang out all the time, they are self-sufficient (for the most part) and they are a little tiny version of who they will become.

I want to thank Beth Merchant, Director of SPWS and true angel in life, and each and every teacher we have had, especially Mrs. Pickett & Mrs. Amos, who the boys just adore and have made this last year so incredibly special for us. SPWS holds a wonderful place in our family’s heart, we will always consider SPWS a safe, fun place for us. Thanks to SPWS, I have become a confident mother going through all of the big milestones throughout preschool. And my children are strong, capable, happy, caring and loving children. I can’t take all the credit for that;-)

Here’s to Sharon Presbyterian Weekday School, the biggest best kept secret in Charlotte! We will miss you dearly:-( And I officially “get it” when people continually stop me and say “enjoy, they grow up so fast!” Insert tears here.

Ansley First Day of School

Isabel First Day of School

Owen & Walker First Day of School

Mrs. Pickett

Mrs. Amos

And last but certainly not least, Beth Merchant!