Happy Birthday Sophia! 5??? How did this happen so quickly? Last year I was saying to Cecil, "Can you believe she will be 5 in a year??" And here we are, you are now 5! I wrote a letter to you for your DCP yearbook and I am sharing it here because I think it speaks to you and how you have changed so much, in this special fifth year...
We know you had such a wonderful and special 'princess' 5th birthday with all of your friends!
Dear Sophia,
“Will Sophia ever look that old?” This is the question I have been asking myself since you started at DCP in the parent tot class back in 2008. The pre-k kids always looked so much older than the rest of the kids at the school…obvious, right? But I say this because the pre-k kids had something a bit more...I just hadn't been able to put my finger on what it was except that they would be going to a ‘big kids’ school’. The funny thing is that even when you started school in the fall this past year, I still didn’t think that you looked like the pre-k’ers that I had always seen. But oddly, by the holiday season…it changed. I think I know what the difference is now, what sets you/them apart. You are losing your ‘toddler-ness’ and it is amazing to experience and see.
You were born into this world with the same personality you have today. You are true to yourself, you are silly and fun, you are wise beyond your years, you are determined. You have always needed to be comfortable with new people and new surroundings before you allow your true self to shine. You needed time to warm up. I have thought a lot about the transition to kindergarten which will happen this fall. In fact, I can tell you that I have been teary at both your 2/3 and 3/4 parent conferences. Why? I just wanted to know that you would make that transition from DCP to kindergarten and be "ok"…new surroundings, new people…
But here is the wonderful thing, I have no worries today. (Well, that isn’t entirely true ;)
I have seen you change. You remain the caring, curious, funny, silly, comfortable and yet still confident little girl…but you are no longer a toddler. There is a difference and I see it now.
DCP has been an amazing place for you, for us. We have both spent wonderful years at this school. You have laughed, played, explored, painted, dressed up… every activity under the sun. You have also made so many wonderful and special friends…friendships that I have no doubt will continue even when you go your separate ways with schools. I have seen you do and experience all of those things with my own eyes which makes it even more special. I have those memories because I have seen it all first hand at school and I will never forget watching you grow from my little Bopher to big girl!
You have shined in the past 4 years at DCP and I can only imagine what the world has to offer you, and you to the world, in all of your years to come.
With all our love,
Mom and Dad
