I think it is essential that you try and enjoy it with your child because it will be over before you know it. I am just utterly in shock that my son’s kindergarten year will be coming to an end so soon. It seems like yesterday that I was getting his kindergarten vaccinations and getting ready for the big day, but I have loved watching my son flourish at school and hope he will continue to do so.

I think I probably have had it easier than a lot of parents, though. I am able to volunteer a few times a week in his class and in other areas of the school. Also, I believe that his school is one of the most interesting places to learn. The magnet program alone is worth its weight in gold. I went to a magnet school when I was a child and it amazes me, to this day, what I have learned in just those electives alone. I believe the reason my son, my husband and I have had such great experiences with the school is because of the people and our town of Wendell.

The great thing about living in a small town is that you can always be available at a moment’s notice for your child. I have been a stay-at-home mom for three years now, and this past year has been the hardest for me because my son started kindergarten.

But again, it has been much easier than I anticipated because of how great his school is. I know there are some people who think that it should be the best — or the easiest — year since your child is basically in the care of someone else, but what you don’t realize is that’s the main problem. I have been absolutely blessed with having my son start in a class with a wonderful teacher and teacher’s assistant. Without them, I don’t think I could have survived.

The first day of school came and went with no huge traumas, at least not for my son anyway. He was so excited. I even managed to not cry … until I pulled back into my driveway at home. “What do I do now?” was my only thought. Honestly, I had a lot to do, but what kept me sane was the fact that if I did need to get to my child, I could be there in a blink of an eye.

Now the first year is almost over. And I can’t really fathom him going into first grade because it seems like yesterday I was changing his diaper. It seems like yesterday that I was teaching him his ABCs. It seems like yesterday that I was packing his lunch on the first day of school. Pretty soon I will be writing an article about how a mother feels when her child is starting his first day of high school. But I bet that this first school year will still seem like yesterday to me.