I am a worrier. A relentless one, actually. I like to tell my husband that I’m a realist. He doesn’t buy it. I do worry about a lot when it comes to my preschooler.
She is a bright, sweet, caring kid. I look at her and I see pure innocence. She gets so thrilled by the smallest thing, and is so willing to give love to everyone around her. She is a people person like me, I think, and doesn’t care too much for being alone. She likes friends. At this age, it is pretty easy to make friends.
That is what I love about being 4. It’s amazing how we can go to a park, the gym daycare, or just about anywhere, and she will run into another little girl, and they are instantly best friends. With one little friend we’ve done things with only 3 times, they are already exchanging “I love You’s” when we have to leave. But, at some point, I know things are going to change. Kids can be mean. Cruel even. I don’t want my child to be one of the kids being made fun of, and I especially don’t want her to be the one making fun of others.
I worry that with Kindergarten, all innocence will be lost. Silly thought, isn’t it? But, I do worry about that. I worry that her tiny, precious spirit will be crushed by some five year old that says something they don’t really mean.
But, I try to comfort myself with these thoughts:
She is loved. She has family that loves her. We can praise her, uplift her, and make her home a refuge.
We can teach her about the true meaning of Love. A Heavenly Father that loves her, unconditionally.
We can teach her to love others, no matter what they look like. How they act, or even if they are mean to us.
And, last, but not least, every child makes it through school alive. With support from all the above mentioned things, she will be fine.
Sending our kids into school is never easy. All of a sudden, they are influenced by friends and teachers, that before were just strangers. But, there really is no need to worry. If we love them, everything will be OK.