There is beauty all around: Did I do enough?

The day has finally come. My little Benson started school. Last week, he and I attended his kindergarten evaluation together. We were both a little nervous. He was scheduled to meet with Mrs. Bryson. I had somehow convinced myself that whoever evaluated him would somehow convince the other teachers that she had to him in his class. :)

We filled out a volunteer questionnaire form, where I basically volunteered to live in his classroom. Then Mrs. B began to ask him questions. He did great and knew his letters and sounds. He even wrote down some words when she asked him. He wrote his name and did math problems for what seemed like forever. He honestly knew more math than I thought, haha. At one point she asked, "I bet you can count to 100 huh?" As to which he replied, "Yeah, duh." Awesome. A few other funny parts include:

Mrs. B: If you have three cookies and I give you three more, how many do you have?
Benson: six
Mrs. B: If you have 16 cookies and I give you one more, how many do you have?
Benson: 17! But if you give me that many cookies, I will probably have to call my mom because I will have a tummy ache!
Mrs. B: Laughs! I have never had a child say that before. May I keep you?

Mrs B: There sure are a lot of cars in the parking lot.
Benson: I bet it is all the teachers, I saw a bunch in their classrooms setting up.
Mrs B: A lot of teachers actually live close enough that they can walk to school.
Benson: Well, that sure is nice.
Mrs B: I am not one of those teachers.
Benson: Ah man, that's a shame.
Mrs. B: If I am ever having a bad day, I think I will come and find you to cheer me up.

Mrs B: Spell the word "the."
Benson: Oh that's easy (writes the letter D as in duh).
Mrs B. and mom: Laugh uncontrollably.

We then spent the week in Boise celebrating my brother's return from his mission. I found out while we were there, that he was indeed in Mrs. Bryson's class. I think it is going to be a good year. After our trip, we returned and tried our best to prepare for the big day. We had a special Family Home Evening and talked to Benson about school. I was being rather brave until Keith began to cry as he told Benson how special he was and how ready he was to go out into the world alone because he knows right from wrong. Keith and I were both pretty much basket cases at that point. We were not crying out of sadness (well, maybe a little), but are so proud of our little Benson and what he has become. We know how much he can bless other people's lives. We know how much he will love learning and how much school will enrich his life. We know he will learn from making mistakes on his own. We also know that we will never be our little stay at home family again.

And I can't help but wonder if I have done enough? Had I taught him enough? Had I prepared him for every situation he would face? I am not perfect, but I certainly tried. And thank goodness I can pray and feel reassured that God is watching over him. Earlier in the day, I spoke to a random woman who had had a child in Mrs. B's class and she talked to highly of her. Keith said exactly to Benson, "your mom has done enough to teach you right from wrong." And the next morning, I woke up happy and ready to send my boy to school. He was so excited, and so were we. Keith stayed home and we went as a family to watch for the bus. Then we followed it to school. Keith also came home in the afternoon and we watched him walk out of school and get on the bus and then we followed it home. The first words out of his mouth were "recess was so awesome." He is such a boy.

And he already seems to be learning and growing so much. He carries around a pen that he got at school all day and draws and writes things down. And we find that three hours isn't so bad. And taking two kids (not for much longer) to the store and the dentist office is actually quite a bit easier. And it is pretty fun to have Griffin rule the house for a while.

Maybe we can handle school after all. I am already grateful for a stricter schedule. Plus a little blonde boy in a backpack and polo shirt is about the cutest thing ever.