Let Them Be Little

So we had another milestone in the Jay Family: Griffin, our six and a half year old, graduated from Kindergarten. It's been an amazing year of transformation for him. He entered into Kindergarten with a full set of baby teeth and not knowing how to read and he's graduating without any front teeth and he's not only able to read but also able to write stories!  Not to mention, we  measured him on the last day of school and he's grown three inches since the first day of school back in August!  Amazing transformation indeed!

Much credit is due to his teacher, who created such a positive learning environment for him each and every day where they were encouraged and cheered on to higher ground every day. She also noticed early in the fall that his darling lisp that I found so cute was causing him some phonics troubles so she addressed that early and we've seen great progress! In fact, to reward his great achievements, she nominated him to represent their class in saying the Pledge of Allegiance during their graduation ceremony.  At the beginning of the year this would have been the "Pwedge of Awwegence" but not so in May. He stood up front in his cap and gown, hand over his heart and recited the "Pledge of Allegiance" loud and clear. So proud!

I sat on my perch from the school gym bleachers and used my telephoto lens to snap as many pictures as I could!  But the one that gets me is of his sweet little suede shoes that still don't touch the ground!  It reminds me of the morning of graduation, getting him ready  - which entails snuggling with him and singing numerous renditions of good morning songs until he's not quite so grumpy. (we did this every day this year!)  Then slowly dragging him out of bed and helping him (read dragging him) to get dressed.  I had laid out dress pants, a nice blue collared button down shirt, a spring tie, leather belt, dress socks and his suede shoes.  He was objecting to the tie and wasn't too keen on the belt.  He had in mind that he was going to wear his class t-shirt with the self-portraits of his whole class and the sports shorts he wore to field day earlier that week.  It took some convincing, with help from Dad and his older brothers (because they hold more weight than mom's opinion) until he reluctantly gave in to wearing "church clothes" but still refused to wear a tie. Ok. I know how to choose my battles.  No tie.  As I was helping him with his belt loops, his sweet dress belt, that Papa bought him this past fall, wrapped all the way around to the middle of his back!  But he looked so nice. So handsome, and grown up.  I tied his shoes and invited him to race me downstairs to join me for breakfast… and I led the way down the hallway to the kitchen.

But the sound of his cry echoed down the hallway and I spun around to head toward the graduate only to find him crumpled in a puddle on the floor of his room.  Crying because his "shoes were too tight and he couldn't move his toes!"  "Oh dear!" I said!  Laughing to myself that this will be a very different scene at his future graduations. I rummaged around the closet and found the hand me down shoes from big brother Kiefer that were part of what Griffin called his "uniform" from other "church clothes" events like Christmas.  Gosh, he's growing fast!  But his sweet little suede shoes still didn't touch the gym floor as he sat in his cap and gown for graduation.   I was fine during the whole graduation ceremony… until they pulled down the screen to show the slide show of pictures from the year AND played a perfectly wonderful country song called "Let Them Be Little" by Billy Dean

I can remember when you fit in the palm of my hand
Felt so good in it, no bigger than a minute
How it amazes me, you're changing with every blink
Faster than a flower blooms they grow up all too soon

So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

I've never felt so much in one little tender touch
I live for those kisses, prayers and your wishes
Now that you're teaching me things only a child can see
Every night while we're on our knees all I ask is please

Let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

So innocent, a precious soul, you turn around
It's time to let them go

So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

Let them be little

… And the tears started to flow at the first line: I can remember when you fit in the palm of my hand.  Then it goes on and he sings, "Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day… let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle… oh just let them be little."

I couldn't say it better myself. Maybe that's why the tears flow - even now - as I read these lyrics.  I want to give them hope.  I want to give them praise.  I want to give them love - every day!  And I'm afraid I'm not doing it!   I'm trying… but the days fly by so fast… I just want to hold them. I want to stop time and keep them right where they are.  Not let them outgrow any more shoes.  I just want to giggle together and let them sleep in the middle!  

I'm so thankful for the teachers who helped him grow and achieve so much this year!  But I'm also so thankful that I'm not just his teacher.  I'm so thankful I get to be his mom!  I really want to hold onto these days, that are now unfolding into summer.  I don't want it to pass too quickly, either.  I want to catch lightening bugs and roast marshmallows, sing songs and tell stories, make crafts and read books, bake cookies and cuddle.  I want to go on bike rides and climb trees.  I want to fill our house with joy and music and energy.  (No shortage of that around the Jay house!)

But above all, I want to let them be little.

The graduates parade in while pomp and circumstance is played… Griffin is second in line in this picture (trying not to smile or act like he sees me!) 

Griffin is on far right, hand over heart saying the "Pledge of Allegiance"

Third one in, waiting to be called up to receive his "Diploma"

Let Them Be Little!!!

Singing a sweet song, "Thank you, Mom" and he looked right at me!!

Hand motions to the song… "Thank you, Mom, for loving me,
all your love helps me to grow, thank you mom, I love, you, so!" 

Our toothless graduate!!!

Griffin and his teacher, Mrs. Tester

All the shining stars of his graduating class!

Our star!!!

His cheering section

Griffin's selfie :)

Other selfie, this one is smiling! :) Toothless!!!

Goofing around!! :)

"Oh, mom, aren't you staying for the all class picnic?"… (First I'd heard of it!) "Of course I am!!"

Us at the picnic!!

"Mom, will you push me on the swings?" … "Of course I will!!"
(Note: Griffin's wearing the self portrait class t-shirt and sports shorts post graduation!)


Let them be little!!!