saying Goodbye

 Saying goodbye is never easy.

Every time i put the goodbye book together i always read the poem from me to the child and in the back of my brain i say "this is for them... make it happy and DON'T CRY!"

But, when you watch a child grow up and go through so many of those early years challenges, it's really hard knowing that you are no longer going to be a special person IN their lives.... just a special memory OF their lives. For them, graduating from daycare was such a long time ago, but for me it's like yesterday.

This fall we said goodbye to my friend Ethan and Evelyn , who are both starting kindergarten.

To my friend Ethan,

I will really miss your energy, laughter and your soft little voice.

You are so much fun to play with (even playing trains for the millionth time), you are an awesome friend with all the little people who looked up to you (even when they wrecked your track) and a great playmate for your peers who worked with you to make fun games. I know for me, nap time just isn't the same without tucking you in with your blue blankie and monkey and listening to the slurping noise you made while falling asleep with your thumb half in/out of your mouth! Mostly i will miss your contagious laughter and awesome hugs! good luck Ethan, and come visit us soon!

To my friend Evelyn,

This one is even harder! I have known you since you were a little baby!

I have seen you through learning to walk, talk, toilet train, making friends, growing your hair.... cutting your own hair, from being the youngest to the oldest! You hold a very special place in my heart young lady!

Some of the things that i will miss about you are your kind nature, your yearning to learn new things, your dress up adventures, your gentleness with the little ones, your awesome pictures that are plastered all over my fridge, playing the memory game and you kicking my but, your imagination in the way you set up games for everyone to play, your love of bugs, your policing of what everyone is doing when I'm busy, your help, reading books with you, singing and dancing, cuddling, but i have to say.... i will mostly miss your giggle!

I hope you have an awesome experience in your new school Evelyn! I look forward to catching up with you when you come back to play with us!