I just had my 37th birthday.  My son is going to kindergarten.  Allison is going to big girl school and not liking it.

Stop.  I am putting on the brakes, but 'it' isn't stopping.  It's time, but transitions are so hard (for me too.)  When I look back about three years ago, I remember trying to get to this day.  Jackson is going to Kindergarten. 

I know we are in good hands and that the team that we have in place is ready for Jackson.  I know this.

We are transitioning from one family to another that is welcoming Jackson with open arms.  I will ask questions about fill in the blank and the response will be..."How do you want it to work?  We are here to support Jackson."  Jackson's primary teacher has been teaching for fourteen plus years and won me over.  She gathered all of her kiddos on a frog carpet, showed pictures of herself from her first day of kindergarten, read the story 'First Day Jitters', and sent all of the kids home with a special note and jitter glitter.  Jackson had a hard time when he had to go off with the other kiddos while Jeff and I stayed for the orientation part.  His sped teacher was not even phased and had all kinds of comforting words for us. 

We all walked to the car.  I was overwhelmed and wondering how Jackson is going to make it in this big school with zero the hero, etc. when he doesn't even know what is going on (he seemed to be off in his own autie world during so much of the night).  I buckled him in, his arms shot up in the air, and he says "I'm going to Kindergartener."  Maybe he is getting some of it.

I spent time during our going to bed routine going over the Kindergarten rules, all the good things that could happen at Kindergarten, and sprinkling his jitter glitter.  He wanted Shamu to have some and Elwood to have some too.  We saved some for Mommy, Allison, and one last pinch for him in the morning.  I know I will need it.  After drop off, I may go down to the library for 'Tears and Cheers' if I can handle it.

Allison started at her new school last week.  I didn't want Jackson and Allison both starting new schools on the same day.  The first day was perfect.  I thought to myself...so this is how transitions are 'supposed to' work.  She had visited the school twice before and walked right on in with a "this way mommy."  Now, it's different.  Allison has to be peeled from my legs saying "I don't want you to go to work.  I want to go to my old school.  I don't have friends.  I don't like my new school."  Rip my heart out and stomp on it.  I never thought I would think...I wish she didn't have the words to tell me that.  Mimi gets the joyous job of taking her tomorrow.  Oh, I hope it is a better day.  Come on jitter glitter!

We will miss our TSA family.  Graduation was emotional.  We had another jump party over the weekend and spent Saturday evening at the school's annual tennis fundraiser.  It was so fun!  Spirits of all kind were flowing and it felt like a grand send off for those of us that are leaving. 

I hope Jackson finds some friends like he had at TSA and that Allison can be that friend.

to a jitter free day,

Stacy