Summer is almost over and school will soon start for many, if it hasn’t already.  In my house, it’s the start of a new chapter.  My daughter will be starting Kindergarten, and while she is ecstatic and can’t wait until the first day, my husband and I have been dreading this day all summer.  It’s officially the beginning of the “Big Girl” stage…meaning our baby isn’t such a baby anymore.  While I am feeling sad, excited, anxious, worried, etc. about the start of Kindergarten, I am also looking forward to all the new experiences that she will soon have.  Even though I know there will be some sad times, some heartaches,  some stressful times, along with the happy times, I know that these experiences, whether good or bad, will help to shape her into the person she will become.   I also know that there will be many ”opportunities and choices”  in this new chapter.  We’ve done our best to mold her during these crucial first five years and hopefully instill in her the values we find important.  Now school will determine whether we did do our “best” or could have done “better”.  No longer will we be the only voice in our daughter’s mind…soon her mind will be filled with many other voices…. voices of teachers, peers, other students, and other adults, and most importantly, her own voice.  She will have to decide for herself, using her first 5 years as a guidance, on how she will use these “voices”.  Will she be a leader?  Will she be a follower?  Will she choose the “right thing”?  Will she be a good person?  All to be determined.  It’s just like reading a novel and we are on Chapter 1.  Of course, I do not underestimate the influence of parent involvement and I certainly don’t feel my job is over.  I intend to have a watchful eye over her as much as I possibly can and to be involved and available as much as I possibly can, but I’m also realistic and know that even with all of my involvement — there will be those moments.  Those moments when mommy & daddy are not right there to guide.  I can only hope (and pray) that she will do the “right” thing, even during those times when doing the “right” thing is harder than doing the “wrong thing”.  I hope this will be one of those moments in life when I look back 20 years from now and laugh at how I worried myself silly for nothing. For now, I watch my daughter as she excitedly prances around in her new school uniforms giving us a fashion show.  Her smile couldn’t be any bigger.  The chapter begins…