“If only I had one more year to work on my social skills,” he’ll say, as he cries from the window he has shot out as a teenage serial shooter. “It only I had learned my ABCs.”

Of course, the truth is — I feel guilty for actually thinking about my needs first when considering when to send him. My son, Paul, has a late birthday, missing the cut off by one week, which was just as well because he was not ready.

But with Eric, it is up to me. His birthday is August 1st. This will put him pretty much in the middle. He will not be the youngest and he will not be the smallest. He turns five-years old, four months before the cut-off date, so he is officially old enough. 

Is he “prepared” enough?

Socially, he is up for anything. Whatever he sees, he wants to try. He is always determined to succeed. He gets frustrated easily but this involves him clenching his jaw and his fists and stating loudly: “I am so frustrated!”

Paul’s reaction to just about everything has always been tears and hysteria. But Paul was writing his name by four-years old. When I ask Eric to spell, he smiles and says “S!” He is obsessed with Scotch Tape and opens Zip-Lock Bags by ripping a whole in the bottom.

He takes his pants off in order to pee. No matter what the weather, he will be wearing shorts (“little pants”), a T-shirt with a dinosaur on it, and bare feet. Oh, and no underwear. I finally figured out the shoes and underwear slow him down when he takes his pants off to go.

And so he is registered. 

He is excited about the prospect: announcing daily that when he is “bigger” he will go to Paul’s school. Every day I am encouraged by his positive attitude and determination. While Paul always needed to be “first,” Eric prefers a challenge. I am confident he will rise to the test and have a great year at kindergarten.

I look forward to to athose extra “child free” hours, too.

By Cathy Burke