A few days ago,while riding in the car, Grant asked, "Mom, why do they call it KinderGARDEN if they aren't growing anything??"
When I was in the 7th Grade, I spent a wonderful weekend in New York City with my best friend Alexandra. On my first day there, she and her mother took me to see 'The Secret Garden' on Broadway. Sitting just a few rows from the stage, I fell in love with that show. I purchased the soundtrack and memorized every word, practicing it over and over again in my best British accent! My favorite song was called 'Wick'. It was the idea that even when a garden doesn't seem to be growing, the tangled roots and branches can come alive b/c they are 'wick' and ready to grow.
"When a thing is wick it has a light around it Maybe not a light that you can see. But hiding down below a spark's asleep inside it just waiting for the right time to be seen."
As I pack Nate's backpack tonight for his first day of 1st Grade (eeeek!!!) tomorrow, I recalled what Grant had said, and thought about that song I loved.
Kindergarten year was a perfect, nurturing GARDEN, and Nate, he was WICK, and came alive and grew, and grew.
I am packing a backpack tonight for a completely different child. It has been a year of immense GROWTH for Nate.... reading, writing, riding a school bus, forging friendships, conquering fears (singing in front of his whole class!!), learning a new vocabulary, and more.
A year of GROWTH for me in letting go, discovering who my child is, watching him make his own decisions, trying to keep a straight face while he discovers that new vocabulary, becoming a better mother, teacher and friend.
What a special, magical thing that 'Kinder Garden' is.
Did I mention his teacher rode a unicycle? She was part of the magic too. A kind, creative, watchful, nurturing gardener.
Can't wait to see what First Grade brings...
