Sew Bittersweet Designs

Last Thursday was Anne’s first official day of preschool. I really did struggle with the decision to start her at 3 almost 4 and go for two years or wait until next year. What tipped it over the edge was her wanting to go because all of her friends were going to school. She is 6 months younger than most of them, so she will be a year behind them when kindergarten starts but I figure the socialization and the ability to make new friends is always a good thing.

For her first day of school I wanted to do something special. I made her a dress for her first day, she picked out the fabric of course, and I also made her a special book…

It is a basic fabric covered Composition Book, but what makes it special is what I wrote inside. When we were home in March my mom gave me this box of papers that she had been saving for me since the beginning of time. Inside it was 6 different sets of papers all stapled with the same set of questions. Each of them were answered in my mom’s handwriting but the answers were mine. Close as I could figure I answered them from Kindergarten until 5th grade.  I decided it would be fun to have Anne answer the same questions, but instead of loose leaf papers that could get lost, I wrote them all into this notebook so I could see how her answers change year after year.

Here are the questions:

My Name Is:
Today Is:
I am ___ Years Old.
I was born on___.
I have ____ hair and ____ eyes.
I am ___ inches tall and I weigh ___ pounds.
I like to wear ____.
Usually I feel ___.
I am happiest when ____.
I am sad when____.
I get angry when ____.
I  like ___, ______, _____, _____, _____, and ____.
I am good at _____.
I am not good at ____.
I want to learn ____.
If I could go anywhere I want to go, I would go to ____, because ____.
If I could be anyone I want to be, I would be _____, because ____.
If I could have anything I want, I would want _____.
If I were an animal I would be an _____ because_____.
I live in _____ with ____.
I have responsibilities at home ____, ____, _____, and ____.
Draw a picture of your home and family.
I go to ________ (school).
My favorite thing about school is __________.
I don’t like _________.
I have responsibilities at school ______, _______, and ________.
Draw a picture of your school.

Lot’s of questions! We spent the morning answering these and Anne was so excited to draw in the special notebook!

I thought you might like to see a couple of her answers!

The cutest pictures of the day though are the ones in her dress all ready for school! But then I might be biased about that 🙂

We also got one picture before heading into the classroom.

Shortly after I took this picture we went into the classroom and signed her in. She was amazing, she found her own name tag without any help! Yup, she can read her name!  After we were done with hand washing she immediately told me that she was ok and that I could go home now.  I was torn between being proud of my independent little girl and a bit crushed at how quickly I was dismissed. I went home, had lunch alone for the first time in almost 4 years and then spent my time sewing and waiting for 2:40 to roll around so I would have an excuse to get back in the car and go get her!

This whole school thing really is a whole new adventure for the both of us!