First Grade Registration Day

"Chloe," Momma called up the stairs.

I sat in the floor of my bedroom with my arms crossed tight and my bottom lip poked out. Momma always said I could win awards in pouting. I didn't even know they had competitions for that.

My mood hopped from pouting to sad.

"Chloe Ann!"

Maybe if I miss registration for first grade, I won't have to go. 

"Chloe Ann Parker!"

Uh oh, my whole name. "Momma's getting mad now."

"Not mad, but quite frustrated. "

I jumped.

Momma stood at my bedroom door with her arms crossed. "It's time to go, young lady. We need to go register you for first grade."

"But Momma, I really didn't finish Mrs. Potts' kindergarten since I came in towards the end of the year. They really want you to complete one grade before you move to the next one, you know."

Momma's face softened into her sweet smile. She walked over and eased onto my bed. "Honey, you had a whole year of kindergarten, just not all in Mrs. Potts' class. I know change is hard and sometimes scary, but you're growing up."

"I didn't grow that much over the summer."

Momma stood and reached her hand to me. "Come on. I'm sure you'll like your first grade teacher just as much as you liked Mrs. Potts."

I slowly stood up and grasped Momma's hand. "I don't know."

"Remember, you were afraid about Mrs. Potts and her class before you tried it. You gotta give it a try."

"I guess you're right, Momma. I didn't want to go to kindergarten at first when we moved here but then Mrs. Potts turned out to be the bestest teacher ever."

Momma nodded.

I chewed my bottom lip for a minute. "I guess I can give it a try."

"Good girl." Momma hugged me.

***

We walked inside the school, and the principal, Dr. Crum, smiled. "Chloe, it's nice to see you."

She remembered my name. I smiled back and waved as we walked on by. I shook my head. How does she walk around in those fancy spiky shoes? Guess it's a principal thing. 

Up ahead was a table and I spotted Mrs. Potts. I let go of Momma's hand and sprinted up to my favorite teacher.

"Good morning, Chloe." Mrs. Potts put one arm around me and squeezed me in a hug. "Hello, Mrs. Parker."

"Morning, Mrs. Potts. Chloe's not too excited to leave your class."

Mrs. Potts looked at me. "You'll do great in first grade. You're a smart girl."

If Mrs. Potts thought I was smart, it must be true.

Momma and I walked down the hall, past all the kindergarten classrooms and the Pre-K. The first grade table was just ahead. Four teachers sat behind it. Which teacher would I have?

I slowed my feet. My stomach jiggled a bit like jello. What if I needed to puke? I swallowed hard. Not a good way to start out with a new teacher.

Momma told the teachers my name and the one on the end near me grinned. "I have Chloe Ann Parker on my list. I'm Mrs. Taylor. I'm glad you'll be in my class this year."

Momma and Mrs. Taylor talked but I wasn't sure about what. I was studying my new teacher. Her teeth were pretty and white when she smiled. And when she chuckled at something that was said, her whole face laughed. Her eyes even twinkled behind her glasses. I liked it.

"I'll see you Monday, Chloe," Mrs. Taylor said.

"Okay, Mrs. Taylor. Mrs. Potts said that I'm a smart girl, so I'll probably be your favoritist student." I gave her a thumbs-up and a wink.


*********
Change can be hard, but sometimes we find, like Chloe, that it's not as bad as we imagine. When have you had a time you have had to change? Change schools? Change grades? Change houses? Describe it and how it turned out for you.

What might you say to someone who is scared about starting a new class at school? How could you encourage them?

But I don't want to go to First Grade!

Mrs. Potts smiled her sweet smile. "Class, when you return on Monday, we will have only seven days of Kindergarten remaining. I just know you will all do a great job next year in first grade."

I raised my hand.

"Yes, Chloe."

"Mrs. Potts, I'm not sure I really want to go to first grade. I don't want to leave you."

"Sweetheart, that is so sweet. I will miss you, too. But you all are growing up. You are ready."

I wasn't so sure about that.

Later at home, I told Momma about wanting to stay with Mrs. Potts. "Momma, first grade might be too hard. They probably don't go on many field trips. I bet the homework is hard and I'll have it every night. I just know they won't help me like Mrs. Potts has. What if my teacher is mean?"

"Honey, I know you'll do fine in first grade. Mrs. Potts has made sure you're ready. And I bet you'll have a teacher you love just as much as Mrs. Potts."

"But I can only count to one hundred twenty. Christian can count all the way to two hundred."

"Now Chloe, you have to understand that there will be others who will be better at some things than you. There will be things you excel in above others. Everyone is different. God made us unique with our own gifts and abilities. You just do your best."

I still wasn't convinced I wanted to move on to first grade. Is there not one thing I could do to stay in kindergarten?


*************

Have you ever been afraid to start something new? Explain.

Write a letter to Chloe. Explain why she shouldn't be afraid. Encourage her by giving reasons she can look forward to going to first grade.

Bootiful and Adorable

As soon as Daddy finished the prayer for our supper, I just had to share. "Did you know that Mrs. Potts is amazing at drawing? She is teaching us to draw all kinds of farm animals."

"That's sounds really neat." Daddy nodded.

"It is. We've drawn a turkey and a cow and a pig. Momma, my cow and pig are truly adorable."

"I can't wait to see them," Momma said.

"We have this big barn for them and everything. Mrs. Potts said that a lot of parents will frame the barn and animals and keep it forever. I just know you'll want to do that with mine. They're bootiful."

"I'm sure I will. I'm sentimental like that." Momma shrugged.

Daddy laughed. "Yes, you are." He looked at me. "Momma still has letters we wrote to each other when we were in school."

Pink spread across Momma's cheeks. "Guilty. I just can't part with those precious things."

"Are they love letters?" I giggled.

Momma's cheeks reddened and she chuckled. "I suppose you would say that's what they were. Not really good ones, but they were supposed to be love letters."

Daddy winked at Momma and she grinned.

"Aw, how romantical."

"Yep, romantical. That was me," Daddy said.

"Well, as romantical as a boy in middle school could be." Momma rolled her eyes.

I laid my hands over my heart and fluttered my lashes. "You two are almost as adorable as my cow and pig."

Daddy crossed his arms over his chest. "Well now, isn't that an honor!"

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What kind of projects have you done that you were especially proud of? What made you proud of those projects?

Why do you think Momma likes to keep things? Why would she call them precious things?