Today, you finally turned 6 years old! I say finally because being in a public school, you barely missed the cut off for starting kindergarten last August. So, most of your friends have been 6 for at least 6 months, now. AND the fact that we had your birthday party a week early to try to get some of your school friends to make it. We knew going into it that you would be a "young one." At times, you were proving our fears right. At times, you proved us wrong :) You have always been a child who HATED change. You have also seemed to have developed strong "fears" that only come out at certain times. However, this past year was a HUGE success for you!
You survived kindergarten & kindergarten survived you. You started out the year crying and crying and not wanting to go to school. The AP at your school literally had to climb in my car and drag you out (only for a few days). Then, you gladly did it on your own and had a great attitude! You had so much change to deal with the first few months of school. Your little brother went into the ICU for the second week of school. One of your grandfathers passed away in September, and you had to miss a whole week of school to travel back to NC. Then in October, Z went back into the hospital for another week. You would think it wouldn't bother you too much, but, again, things were different, and you don't like change.
Around that time your teacher, Mrs. Pattie, went on extended maternity leave, and she was concerned that you would not be able to read or "get your act together." Mrs. Lam took over. When Mrs. Pattie returned, she was pleasantly surprised to see that you were doing well reading and had adjusted to kindergarten quite well! Your reading skills were right on target (average) for your class. You excelled in math and earned on level on most things. You were even Excellent in things like science and social studies! Your behavior was on green everyday minus about 3 days, for the whole 2 semester. You are sooooo smart! I mean it, because most kids can't fully "catch up" after being behind in reading skills. Trust me. I know. I taught middle schoolers who couldn't read much better than you :(
So, needless to say, you finished kindergarten on level and with great behavior! I think Florida might be a little advanced from other states, which might put you at the head of your class elsewhere :) Even if you are still just "on level," your dad and I are so proud of you! To be one of the youngest kids in your class and succeed like you did, it something truly amazing.
From Christmas until the 4th of July, you grew about a whole inch! Your body has gone through a great growth spurt in the past few months. I could tell by the way you looked, how short your shorts were getting, and how tight your shoes were getting. You wore the same pair of tennis shoes all school year! I let you throw them away the next-to-last day of school. You never complained about them hurting your feet until then, and there was no way those shoes would be worn by Z. You wore them out! I was so thankful! You also got to throw your Mario lunchbox and Lightning McQueen bookbag away after the last day of kindergarten. Those could not be re-used either! You got your money's worth out of those :)
It's still surreal to me that I will have a young man starting 1st grade in a month and a half. You don't want to go to 1st grade, though. It's not because you don't like school, because you LOVE it. It's because you don't like change and would like to do kindergarten over again :)
Sometimes I wonder about your fits that seem to come from deep-down fears. I don't know where the fears come from and why they are so intense, but I realize that we just have to work through it. You are an awesome kid! I wouldn't trade you in for anyone else, and I try hard not to compare you to your brother. You are smart, incredibly handsome, and a people-pleaser. I guess I can claim all of those traits as coming from me, but your dad has most of those traits, too.
One other bragging point that I have to bring up is how you were able to share about Jesus with your friends in public school. I know you were only 5, but for you to tell your friends that Easter was not about a bunny but about Jesus is amazing! There were other things, too. Your Daddy got to lead you in a prayer of salvation in the car, on the way home from school around Easter time. I'm so proud to know that you are a light in a dark world! Don't ever be ashamed of Jesus! He paid the ultimate price for you to live this abundant life.
I can't believe that you are 6! I can't believe that you "graduated" kindergarten. You are my firstborn child. I am so thankful that God blessed us with you! I love how you love going to church! I love how you are truly your Daddy's buddy and will still crawl up in his lap now. I can't wait to see what you and your dad can dream up to build with all those new legos!
I love you, Malachi James, with all my heart. You are a true gift from God! What a blessing you are to our family and to this earth!
-Your Momma
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