Kindergarten Assessment....

"Good Morning, Mommy!!"

I open one eye.

ick.

It's 6am.

"It's time to get up, it's time to get up, it's time to get up, IT'S MORNINGGGGG!" my little Emma sings to me in her loud singing voice.

BARK, BARK, BARK, BARK....BARK

sigh.

Pickles needs to go out....

"Mama, Pwickles needs to go outttt!"

Okay, okay, i think to myself, UP!

"Okay, my Emma.....let's get Pickles and go outside."

'YAY!!! PWICKLES, YOU CAN GO OUT TO POOOOOPPPP!"

Why is the work "poop' so much fun for little kids?

Suddenly, i remember.

It's Kindergarten. Assessment. Day.

I'm not ready for Kindergarten Assessment Day.

Emma is.

I'm not.

Emma and i go out to watch Pickles do her thing. Emma starts her chores of feeding and watering Pickles as i get out strawberries and grapes and cereal for breakfast.

"Emma, today we are going to your new school!" i say in my most fake happy voice.

"YAY!!!" Emma screeches.

Yay indeed.

"I want to wear a bow. Can we go now, Mama?!?!?"

"No, Emma, breakfast first, bath next, getting dressed and finishing your chores first." i mumble.

"YAY!!" she screeches again.

"Not ready to let you go, yet, Emma...." my mind is silently screaming to myself. "Not ready to let you go...."

Off to do her chores she goes, Pickles running after her.

"I'll hurry, Mama!!!"

'We can be late,' i think to myself. Late as in just skipping this whole dang thing...will the police haul me off to jail if i decide not to take her to kindergarten? hmm, they might not, but my sweet husband will.

Breakfast done.

Bath/Shower done.

Dressed.

Chores done.

Pickles out again to do her thing.

It's time for us to go to Emma's new school.

'Damn it', i think to myself....'why does she have to be so excited?'

We get into George (the Honda) and make the short drive to the school. I'm grumpy. Emma, on the other hand, is happy, chatting and ready to see her new school.

"Emma, are you nervous?" i ask her.

"No! Gwod is wiff me, Mommy! You don't be scared cuz God is wiff you, too!" she answers.

Great. Emma picks now to tell me the things i've been telling her.

'WOW, MOMMY! LOOK AT MY NEW SCHOOL!!!!"

sigh.

"I know, Emma! Isn't it beautiful!! You are going to love it, i'm sure!!" i say in my very fake happy voice.

We park and into the school we go....Emma telling everyone she sees "HI!".

More sighing from me....

As we walk into the school office, Emma is her happy, chatty self.

"WOW, Mama! Look at how big my new school is!!"

grrrr.....yeah, it IS big. And it's really nice, too.

Emma and i walk through the school, holding hands, looking at the cafeteria ("I'm going to eat my lunch dere, Mama!"), at the library (OOOOOO....wlook at all da books!"), at the music room and the gym "I woffe the gym, Mommy!!!"). We finally find the Kindergarten "Wing".

Emma, walks up to the desk where we need to sign in and says.....

"HI! I'm Emma Johannes. I live at...."

oy.

She's going to love school, isn't she?

The teacher who is doing the assessments comes out and introduces herself and my Emma starts her speech again:

"Hi!! I'm Emma Johannes!! I live at......"

I smile.

"Mama, you can go sit ovber dere. I'll be back."

What?

Sweet Jesus.

I do as my Emma tells me...sitting in my little chair, staring at the wall with the paperwork i need to fill out.

How did Kindergarten come so fast?

Wasn't it just yesterday that she learned to crawl?

Wasn't it just yesterday that she learned to walk?

Who are these teachers? Will they take good care of my Emma? Will they love on her as they teach her new things? Will they comfort her if she gets scared?

I sit in my little chair, lost in thought, trying desperately to hold back tears.

After a few minutes, Emma comes running towards me.

"Mama!! I done! Let's go to the Dwollar Stwore!"

"Okay!" I tell her.

"Mrs. J, she did wonderful. Sweetheart, we'll see you on your first day, okay?" the teacher smiles at us.

She probably thinks that i'm some nutty Mother who has issues....oh, wait. I am that Mother, aren't i?

"Mama, i am going to WLOOOBBBBEEEE coming to school hwere!!"

Emma takes my hand and we walk together down the hallways to the office to sign out.

"So, everything okay, Emma?" i ask.

"Yep! Mama, can we go to wlunch wiff Dada?"

"Of course. Let's go get your Dad!" i smile to myself.

And together, she and i get into the car....me and my little kindergartner.