Hop Dad

Moving Up to Third Grade

September 5, 2017 at 1:00 pm Leave a comment

To My Darling Daughter,

Here we are at the beginning of another year of school. Today is your first day of Third Grade.

This year was my first opportunity to wake you up from your drooling slumber and help you get ready for school. I have everything prepared for your first day. The gigantic list of supplies is bagged up, lunch is prepared, and your sassy, fashionable outfit is pressed and laid out.

You insisted on being wakened early enough to get a shower in before putting on your new clothes. You might not realize it but you made the morning very special for me by asking if I would do your hair. A braid along one side, then pulled back into a pony tail, just like you requested. I am patting myself on the back for that one.

You are literally moving up – your classroom is on the second floor of the school. More than once you have mentioned this and I think you are a little intimidated by the notion of being on the floor with the “big kids”. I know about five minutes into your first day up there you will feel like you are right where you belong.

There is a new aspect of this year that I want to address. Your brother starts his school career next week and this is what you need to know: when you are at school with him you are family. He may irritate you at home and bring you to tears with his relentless badgering and annoying behavior, but when you are at school you stick up for one another. You support him. You defend him. You do not run him down in front of anyone. When the bullies show up, and they inevitably will, step up and defend him because he deserves that protection. He may drive you nuts, but you know you love him. School is where you can show it and be an example of what is best in big sisters.

I have now dispensed with the notion that before you walk into your classroom every school year I could have your full attention and speak some special words of encouragement. We talked enough last night. This morning I am content to enjoy watching you line up with the rest of your classmates, head straight to your desk, and get on to the business of Third Grade.

I hope this is your best year yet. You are the most capable, the smartest, the brightest little girl. I have no doubt you will devour this year of school with the same enthusiasm you have brought to every year of your school experience.

I love you more than everything, everywhere, all of the time.

Ok, my Darling Doodles, it’s time to go to school.

Entry filed under: Being Dad.