Reflections on the end of elementary school

 This was the beginning.

Walking to bus for first day of pre-K

On a cold January morning in 2005, right before his 3rd birthday, I sent my "baby" off to school.  On a bus.  By himself.  My husband was serving in Afghanistan and after that big yellow bus left I called my sister and I'm pretty sure I cried.

Ian did not.

He was a brave little trouper and although his first months in the school system were not easy for him, he has never given me a hard time about getting on the bus or going to school.

It was not the typical first day of school, and his elementary education has not been a typical one either.  It has been filled with meetings, IEPs, re-evaluations, behavior plans, visits to doctors and clinics.  He does not have a typical report card and he doesn't take typical tests.  He sees a speech therapist twice a week, and an OT checks in on him periodically.  He is in a "self contained" classroom; he cannot handle general education. Or the cafeteria.  Or assemblies.  Or field trips with his grade level.

 Every time I receive something about events for the fifth graders, events that I know Ian won't participate in, a little part of me gets very sad.  I often wonder, what if?  I try to imagine him as a "typical" kid, with friends to hang out with, bugging me to take him places, complaining about homework, thinking about his future.
But, thinking that way does not help anything, so I try my best to focus on how far he has come.

First day of 2005-2006

 And, he has come far.

First day of 2006-2007

And he will go far too.

First day of Kindergarten

 I'll never stop fighting for him.

First day of First Grade

I will never stop celebrating every single one of his accomplishments, no matter how small.

First day of Second Grade

I will never stop providing him with every opportunity to have fun and grow.

First day of Third Grade

 I will never stop laughing with him.

First day of Fourth Grade

I will adore him always.

First day of Fifth Grade

I am his Mom.  And I will continue to support him and do everything I did in elementary school when he goes to middle school in the Fall.

So, goodbye to elementary school.  It's been a great experience and we've both learned a lot!