Last Day of Preschool (letter to Camden)

Dear Camden,

I wrote this letter to you the night before you started preschool, what seems like an eternity ago. I was so, so afraid of letting you go. I was nervous how you would do outside of our safe little family bubble. I was worried you would be scared, I was worried you'd have trouble making friends, I was worried that you just weren't ready. After all, preschool is a huge stepping stone into independence, and you'd spent the vast majority of your three years of life by my side. How would you manage on your own?

The answer, I've come to find out over the past year, is that you manage just fine. Better than fine, actually; you have thrived in your preschool classroom. I can't count the number of times one of your teachers has pulled me aside when I drop you off to talk to me. "He's like an entirely different kid than he was at the start of the year," they tell me. "He's so confident and comfortable in the classroom now," they say proudly. And let me tell you: I couldn't be more proud of you myself.

I've watched you go from an anxious little boy who clung to my leg uncertainly to a kid who runs straight into the classroom, often times forgetting to even hug me goodbye. I've watched you make new friends, including a best friend who jumps for joy the second you walk into the classroom each day. I've watched you gain independence; gone are the days when you needed help buttoning pants, zipping zippers, and putting on coats. I've seen you become much more confident in your abilities, from cutting with scissors to writing your name. I've watched you go from waiting hesitantly for instructions to following your daily routine with confidence. I've heard you stick up for yourself and voice your opinion instead of going along with the majority. In short, I've watched you begin the process of growing into the amazing, kind hearted boy you're becoming.

Today is your last day of your first year of preschool. It's just the beginning of a series of milestones that you'll have in your lifetime, but it's an important one. I couldn't be prouder of you, and I couldn't be more thankful to call you my son.

Love,
Mommy

Then:

And now: