Leaving Emerald City Nursery

What started out as a painful, tooth and nail pulling experience, ended out pretty ok. I cried that first day I dropped her off and I cried on the last day she would attend. Have you noticed I’ve been crying a lot lately. I’ve shed more tears in the past 6 months than the previous 6 years. Heaven help me.

Anywho, when I picked up Tess from school on November 21st, she was in the lunch room with all compatriots. She and her friends were generous with hugs and kisses. So were her teachers. And sweet Ms. Fariyal went so far as to stop by Hello Kitty so Tessa could have a parting gift to remember her friends and class at Emerald City. I smiled when I saw it what it was, a miniature little lunch box. Tessa only went half day, while many of the kids in her class went full day. She was always telling me she wanted a little box to take her snacks and lunch in to school like all her friends, problem was, she didn’t take snacks or lunch to school being that she only went half day. I saw that cute little lunch box and thought she must have told Ms. Fariyal once or twice her desires as well. So darling.

Group hug.

Ms. Faith. Ms. Fariyal

And saddest of all, was saying goodbye to Abu. Bode’s best friend in Dubai. His cheerful smile, buck teeth and morning greeting of, “Hello big boy, hello Tessa”, always warmed my heart.

As difficult as this experience started out for Tessa, and got increasingly better, I will be honest and say it never got EASY. I will also say, it was still the right thing to do. She persevered, was successful and built her confidence for the next go around. Which has gone far better than I ever could have hoped for. Hallelujah. Wade and I are so proud of her and maintain that she truly has been the bravest of us all throughout this experience.