Suddenly Six!: The end of an Era: Those preschool years

A few weeks ago I closed a chapter in my life.

I am no longer a Mom of Preschoolers.

I knew this day was coming; the first day of school this year marked in my mind "the last first day of preschool."
Thus, I tried to savor every little preschool moment.

I was intentional about letting them be preschoolers.

I tried not to rush them; I tried to give them time to just play after school. I let them explore the mushrooms around the school yard and collect big sticks.

We marveled at the gorgeous orange leaves in the fall. I let their world be magical in the school yard.
I will miss those beautiful trees that surround the preschool playground. Every fall I was delighted by their brilliant glow.

My preschool years with the kids were bittersweet, not unlike like most of their childhood seasons have been so far.
I really tried and wanted to soak in every second of this innocence and cuteness. Many times I'd stand in the school yard, watching them play, trying to muster up the energy to push them on the swing.
I would get frustrated that my intentions were constantly interrupted by my emotions and my state of exhaustion.

Oh how I longed to be completely present and joyful!
Yet most of the time I walked into preschool completely drained.

I love these kids with my whole heart. My true desire was to be a Preschool Mom who didn't hurry through these years and recognize the wonder in the simple.

Every time I dropped them off at school, there were little tables set up with experiments and art projects. I rediscovered wonder and delight in these little messes around the room.

I'd forgotten that baking soda and vinegar together is quite exciting!.... And how absolutely incredible it is to watch caterpillars become butterflies!

However, there were so many afternoons when they came home at noon-or didn't go to school at all-that I paced the house, watching the clock, wondering how the day was going to pass without someone or something getting destroyed.

I can look back on those afternoons and regret that I wasn't more creative with my boys or more enthusiastic about our time together.

Basically the afternoons were big chaotic messes

In those hard moments, when I just want to quit and take the easy way out (i.e T.V, being rude or crabby etc) I believe that I have learned that choosing to be present and joyful despite how I feel is so much better.
I believe these preschool years were training grounds for me; the daily routines taught me endurance, rising above my feelings and staying present no matter what.
They were so challenging, yet so precious.

But now it's time to move on, take with me the lessons I've learned in this season, and go forward, anticipating what is next.

The end of this school year brought so many joys:

AWANAS awards night! The kids did a great job completing all their workbooks and memorizing their verses this year!
(And, Wednesday nights were cherished date nights for John and me)

The Class Circus Performance!