The Graduate

"Mommy, I'm GRADUATING!" my little boy said one day as I picked him up from school. He proudly boasted to anyone who would listen that he was graduating from preschool. He even presented me with a handwritten invitation to the ceremony, complete with a sketch of himself.

On the night of the ceremony, Aiden looked dashing in his red mortarboard hat. His class showed off their hard-earned knowledge, counting in Spanish to 50 and in English to 100, naming the 50 states as their teacher pointed to a map, and singing several songs that featured the days of the week, the seasons, and the months of the year.

I'm not sure where the time has gone to. How is it that my little guy is already entering kindergarden? It seems like just yesterday I was changing his diapers and spooning pureed foods into his little mouth. But he's grown into this amazing little boy who is so thoughtful and sweet and kind. Aiden says "Yes, sir" and "Yes, ma'am." He says please and thank you without having to be prodded. He likes to share his food and toys with others. He even thinks of others, regularly telling me, "Stella would like this toy, Mama, maybe we should buy her one." "Mommy, I think Daddy needs a water gun." (OK, sometimes he has an ulterior motive, but he really is a pretty thoughtful kid!)

Aiden is affectionate and silly. He gives the best kisses and hugs and tells the silliest jokes. He and I have the same sense of humor (we laugh hysterically at bathroom humor and compete shamelessly to tell the grossest story to the other) and we have such a good time together. It has been so fun to see his personality emerge, to watch him grow from a cute, smiling little lump of dough to a wise-cracking, rough-and-tumble boy, who forever smells of wet dog, dirt and sunshine. I am so proud of my little guy on this day of his first of MANY graduations (I hope).