Kindergarten, Here we come!

In just a few short hours, my oldest "baby" will officially be a Kindergartner.

I am not going to lie, it has been a very emotional few days leading up to today, the first day of Kindergarten....for her and for me.
I have tried writing this post a few times, but it makes me cry, so I stop.
Being 18 days post partum does not help my cause.
Can you say hormones? Yikes. I can cry at the drop of a hat right now.
And, the sleep deprivation just adds fuel to the fire.

I can't believe the time has come to send Kate to Kinder.
It seems like just yesterday that she was a baby.
And now? Now she is a Kindergartner.
I took this picture early this morning as she was sleeping peacefully and I just prayed over my sweet Kate and her transition to Kindergarten. She doesn't like change and the past 18 days have been full of change...new baby brother and starting school. It has worn her out emotionally.
I am so nervous/scared/anxious/excited for Kate.
Her class list was posted yesterday and she got the teacher that she really wanted (yay!) but we don't know anyone in her class. There are 2 other Kinder classes and we know 3-4 kids in all the other ones, but none in hers.
She is a little nervous about that, but I told her she is so lucky she gets to meet new friends!
(I am not going to lie, I am super nervous she doesn't know anyone either. I was really hoping she would have a familiar face in her class with her.)

Her outfit is picked out and she is excited that today we get to go to Kindergarten with her.
I am so thankful our school has a short first day (2 hours) and that parents get to stay the whole time.
Today she will be walking into her Kindergarten classroom and into other classrooms for the next 13 years.....the majority of her days will be spent at school.
That thought alone puts a lump in my throat.
The time goes by so quickly and it makes me question everything.
Have I done enough for Kate in her first 5 years?
Have I done enough to prepare her for the world around her?
Is she confident enough? Smart enough?
Will she be a friend to those who don't have friends?
Will she stand up for herself and others?
Will be respectful to her teacher?
Kids at school can be mean....Does Kate know how much she is loved by God and her family?
I could go on and on about how scared/nervous/excited/anxious I am for her, but I will just end this with a prayer.
Dear God,
Please calm my heart and Kate's.
Please be with her today and the rest of her days at school and give her confidence in YOU. Help her stand against peer pressure. Empower her to make good decisions.
Surround her with good friends that are positive influences.
Protect her from bullies and those that mean them harm.
Help me as a parent to be even more supportive of her this year.
Give me the words to help build Kate up during her school years and give her the courage to talk to me if she is ever having a problem. Strengthen my discernment.
You are in control and we need to trust you.
Amen.
Deep Breath.
Kindergarten, Here we come!