To my son, before he starts Kindergarten

Dear Hunter,

This week you will pack up your Angry Bird's holographic back pack with number 2 pencils and a pink eraser and walk into the the doorway of the next chapter of your life.  I am so excited for you, dear boy.  You are bright, capable, sweet, and so affectionate.  Your heart is genuinely kind and you constantly amaze me with your understanding of the world.  I know Kindergarten is going to be so fun for you!

Love Bug, along with my excitement is a touch of sadness.  Having you around all day every day has been such a source of joy and blessing to me.  Especially in the past few months.  You are growing into such an incredible little boy. I am going to miss your face during the day!  I tell you this not to make you sad, but so that you know just how much you mean to me.  The decision to send you to Kindergarten is not one that your daddy and I have taken lightly.  We have spent hours praying over this decision and feel confident the Lord has guided us to enroll you.  Please know that I am thinking of you during the day, praying for you, wondering about you, and missing you.

I want to tell you a few things that are important for you to know as you start school.  Some of these lessons you will just have to learn along the way and some may not seem to make sense right now.  But as I think of you starting school, I think of the next 13 years of education and the social implications of it... and these things come to mind....

1. I love you. I know you know this.  I tell you daily.  I will continue to tell you daily.  But I want you to know it when I am not there to tell you.

2. There is nothing you can do to lose my love.  I am for you, dear son, and will always be on your side.

3. You matter.  You are a fun little boy and an amazing friend to have.  Go in confidence into the halls of your elementary school.  Your worth is not found in your academic excellence or your social abilities.  You cannot earn any more favor and worth than you have already obtained as a child of God.

4. Not everyone is kind.  You are good-natured and sweet, and you genuinely care for others.  Some people, and even some kids, are not going to be kind to you.  When you encounter this, please know it is okay to stand up for yourself and it is also okay to walk away from the situation.  It is important to be kind even in the face of unkindness, but you do not have to endure it.

5. The world is broken.  I hate this.  I have tried to shield you from as much of the brokenness as I have been capable of during your first 5 years of life.  The older you get the more of the brokenness you are going to see.  Beyond kids being unkind, you may learn about or see some things that are confusing or hurt your heart.  Please know you can always talk to me about these things.  I want to help you navigate this world, as I, too, am learning to navigate it.

6.  God loves you and He sees you.  Even in the most lonely times, God is with you. His love will surround you and I will be praying daily that his love will guide you and protect you.

7. You can enjoy life.  I hope you know this already and that it is never a question in your mind.  But just in case!  God made you to ENJOY life.  You can wholeheartedly embrace being a kindergartner and enjoy it, without fear!


I love you, son.  May this school year be full of fun and excitement and lots of new friends!! :)