Goodbye Gan Shalom

 Our boy graduated from preschool today.  I knew I would cry, and I did, but not for the reasons I'd expected.

 Gan Shalom is a sweet, special preschool, and we are saying goodbye as Lilit is going to a different preschool next year, and of course, Avi is off to kindergarten at Tehiyah, a Jewish day school in El Cerrito.  One of the moms shared with me that the Gan Shalom families at Tehiyah share a special bond--and that she is excited we will be there, too.  I am looking forward to getting to know Tehiyah, but not unlike Avi, I am also not in a hurry to get there.

 (photo by Avi)

Avi has been anxious about his transition, but also excited.  He asks us regularly about when he will begin kindergarten, and also when he will go to two different camps this summer.  We look at the calendar a lot and discuss all our feelings.  

 One of his teachers at Gan Shalom also happened to teach at the SF preschool Avi entered when he was just 2 years old and 7 months (!!); she shared today how much it meant to her to see him enter and exit his preschool experience and witness all his growth and transformation.

 Avi leapt out of his seat during the ceremony when each child was lovingly honored by teachers and given a t-shirt and packet of their work from the year.  He immediately wanted to put his shirt on and even eschewed his usual requirement of first removing the tag.

 The school is being remodeled, so the teachers had the kids on the walls as part of their good-bye ritual.  Avi told us all about his self-portrait "with red jammies, a blue face, and a green watch; even though I don't really have red jammies." Or a blue face.  With the kids' help, the teachers also composed beautiful expressions of gratitude to the building itself.

 Reading the words was one of the tear-provoking moments, for sure.

 And feeling the collective nostalgia, joy, pride and love from all the parents and grandparents as 24 gorgeous preschoolers reveled in another school year coming to a close.

 And then there were homemade popsicles outside.  Avi and his BFF, Hoshea.

 And his other BFF, Reuben, who has another year until kindergarten but they will be tight at their swim lessons over the next four weeks. They happen to share a deep mutual love for legos, too.

 Leeor and I share a deep love for our firstborn.  When I picked Leeor up on our way to the graduation, he was surprised Lilit wasn't with me. I explained that Avi had requested the presence of just his parents, which worked out fine, because Lilit could nap at home with Ilse. He is the only one of our kids who knows what it's like not to share his parents with siblings, if only for a little while.

 And yet he resists our efforts at picture taking.

Avi had a meltdown as we walked to the car.  Suddenly he was hungry and perhaps overwhelmed by the reality of it all. Leeor and I exchanged parental glances, offered him empathy and reassurance, and then it was over as quickly as it had begun and we were on our way to get lunch and celebratory treats. 

Now we have a kindergartner and a preschooler.  The latter probably felt a little left out of the festivities and needed to let us know loud and clear about her own feelings.  Avi headed to his room and closed the door while she shed a few tears and Leeor and I exchanged more looks.  Like Avi is so beyond tantrums.

It's so good to be here right now, the routine altered slightly for the moment and our kids snuggled in bed.  I reminded Leeor that in just a few months, there will be a baby in our arms after the big kids go to bed. For the moment, we are content to wait.  And enjoy another weekend with our beauties.