Shadow, Part II

We have been thankful for so many things and people this school year as Kendall has started Kindergarten. She is had just a wonderful year, made the adjustment so well, and we have seen her grow and change in some really cool ways! One of those ways has been her confidence. She has been so brave and tried a lot of new things - even just walking in to school by herself is something new that we are proud of her for doing!

Her teacher has been a wonderful support, and so has the counselor, our friend Mrs. Bundick. She has been so sensitive to what Kendall needs and really seems to understand a lot about her personality. On the Friday before Spring Break, during the Texas Day rotations, Kendall had a hard time in the "square dancing" room. (It's public dancing - gets her every time. She never wanted to dance to the Good Morning song in preschool, the ballet recital was a no-go, and Ms. Woodward says she does dance in the morning with them, but she asks to go to the back of the rug where no one is behind her and can watch her.) So after having a little melt-down that Friday morning, she did better when Randy started rotating with her, and then I brought the girls up and we had lunch with her. But then, when we started to leave after lunch, she got pretty tearful and upset. I hated leaving her like that, but knew I needed to just go, and when I walked down the hall I saw sweet Mrs. Bundick. I told her Kendall was having a hard time and she said she would go check on her. We are so thankful for her! I'm not sure what all they did together or what she told her, but I do know that Kendall came home with Shadow, the school mascot again - and this time for the whole Spring Break! Kendall was so excited. We talked about how we would be going to Ft. Worth and I wouldn't be with her to help keep up with Shadow as she went to all her grandparents' houses. She took the responsibility very seriously and said she would take good care of him (her?).

They ended up having a great week together and she didn't lose him or forget him anywhere. When we got back to LJ, she asked me if I would take her picture with Shadow, so we could print it out and then frame it to put on her dresser. We did, and she actually asked if we could make two copies so Mrs. Bundick could have one. Sweet girl. Here is the picture I took.

 

Monday morning she did great, packing her picture in the frame (to show Mrs. Bundick), the copy for Mrs. Bundick to keep, and Shadow to return. We loved getting this picture from Mrs. Bundick of her, Shadow, and Kendall.

We are so thankful for all the people who invest in our girls and love them so well. Sometimes I wish I just had Kendall home with me all the time, but then I know she would be missing out on developing all these important relationships, as well as learning to be brave at times on her own. We're so proud of this big girl!!!