Graduate.

In 2005, the Kindergarten cutoff date was October 15 in North Carolina.  And so, as my little boy was born in September and I thought about the years ahead, I knew that we'd have a 2nd grade girl and a Kindergarten boy.  I've planned on that for 4 years!  As of this year, the cutoff date changed to August 31...putting children within a 45-day range ineligible to enter school this fall.  What a bummer!  Believing that he'd enter school this coming fall, I enrolled him in a 3 morning/week preschool & gymnastics program this year.  It was quite the transition for him, he hated going in the beginning, but loved it by pick-up time.  And throughout the year, he's had fun, though I'm not convinced he actually learned THAT much.  His handwriting is better, but I taught him myself how to read.  So, we were faced with the dilemma of having our once eligible child tested to enter Kindergarten a year "early" or to wait until he falls within the new limit.

After so many months of contemplating and talking with different people and hearing of different experiences, we decided to wait.  Granted, he'll be 3 months away from turning 19 when he graduates from high school, but hopefully being that year older throughout school will play to his advantage.

Anyway, today was preschool graduation day.  A day that would be bittersweet if he were indeed starting Kindergarten in the fall, but instead was actually really exciting!  He "graduated" and is very, very excited to stay home to homeschool this fall.  I have to admit; I am pretty excited myself to get to have my little boy all to myself for one more year.  He's an awesome kid in so many ways.  So happy and cheerful.  Always willing to give a helping hand and the biggest cheerleader and encourager I've ever met.  He's obedient and tries to choose the right.  Says the most thoughtful prayers every day that just blow my socks off.  Gives the tightest hugs and has the greatest imagination.  Sensitive and just so loving.  I love him!

To celebrate, he got to choose a restaurant for us to go out to tonight.  His choice: McDonalds, of course!  Blech!

his teachers, Ms. Sarah and Ms. Susan; he'll miss them!