Checking In: First Day of Kindergarten

Hi, friend. I’ve been a little quiet on this end lately, I know. I’ve been “in my feelings,” to quote Drake, especially yesterday, because my Coywolf started kindergarten.

Even though she’s been going to preschool for three years, it just really, really hit me yesterday that she’s on her way (Um, am I really going to cry again? I guess it’s a good thing that I haven’t put any makeup on yet.) to becoming a full-grown person.

I didn’t expect the feelings to hit me as hard as they did. It’s a mix of joy and sadness…or rather, it’s bittersweet. Where does the time go?

We’d been prepping for the day for a couple weeks — doing run-throughs of putting on her new backpack, trying on her uniform, breaking in her new shoes and talking, in detail, about how things would be different from preschool. One thing I failed to prepare for, though, was how I’d handle it!

Honestly, I thought I was going to be fine. I thought I was just going to go up there and drop her off, and that it would be that. Everything would go smoothly. But no. My eyes started welling up the moment I saw Connor’s teacher waiting to welcome her at the door.

I gave Connor a hug and a kiss and told her to have an amazing day, and she said, “Goodbye, mama,” and walked in with a smile on her face.

My friend, she didn’t even look back. Not at all. She strolled into the classroom, and I caught a last glimpse of the too-big backpack on her tiny little shoulders, her pigtails swinging in the air, and that was it. She was gone.

My heart went “BOOM.” It totally caught me off guard, but I’ve been leaning into it.

Now, before this becomes “the ballad of a hella emotional lady,” I need to share something minor-but-borderline-life-changing I discovered this week — chalk pens! Dude, they’re amazing.

They’re felt-tipped pens that contain liquid chalk, and they’re used just like markers, except on a chalkboard.

I absolutely love ’em! I think they made Connor’s picture board look a lot neater and nicer than regular chalk, and the words are easier to read.

I found this set at Target for 10 bucks and used them to fill out Connor’s back-to-school chalkboard that I have in her first day pics. I think it takes the board to the next level.

I’ve really enjoyed these last few bits of this golden time with my girl. She’ll grow up too soon, and pretty soon she’ll be graduating from high school and going to college in just the blink of an eye.

Who knows? Maybe when that time comes, we’ll still be here talking about makeup and cats, and I’ll still be here bawling my eyes out.

Maybe. Who knows?

Anyway, I love you. Thank you for listening. Talk to you soon.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF! 🤗