Friday June the 9^th, Olivia graduated from her Kindergarten program. Yeah! Congratulations, Olivia!

I actually kind of felt bad that I did not prepare as well as the other parents after I arrived at the daycare, as I didn’t expect the ceremony to be so “official”.

The girls were all in pretty dresses specifically for the special occasion (Olivia wore a sun dress). A couple of boys were even in suits. There were quite some grandparents came too and some of the parents have brought the flowers to give to their child after the ceremony.

The ceremony was set on the lawn outside on the preschool playground with rows of chairs for the parents, grandparents and relatives.  

Because they dressed up, the kids looked especially beautiful. They were very happy as they all knew today is their big day.

After the center director announced the start of the ceremony, the kids came out one by one from the building and sat on a row of little chairs facing the audience. Each of them passed the microphone around and recited a sentence from a poem “End of the Year” for the audience.  

And one by one when their names were called, they received the diploma anda gift bag which included a T-shirt with their class picture in the front.

I think all the kids had both of their parents there, one taking the picture and the other video taping. My husband could not make it, so I video taped the actual graduation ceremony but was not able to take any pictures. Sorry honey :(

After the ceremony, I took some pictures of Olivia and her teachers and friends and then we all went inside. There was a band there playing live music with all sorts of instruments laying around for the kids totry out.

Each child showed their parents and relatives a framed drawing they did. Olivia’s was a water color painting of both of her teachers Ms. Alexis and Ms. Sharon. She was the only one who had the background colored as well and I thought she did a wonderful job.

Although we have never given her any art lessons, her teacher has mentioned that she is very good at it. Olivia herself once told us that her friends call her“little artist”. 

While I was eating lunch side by side with Olivia, I looked at her - my only daughter, who was born at 6 lb and 3 oz, as small as a kitty cat, has grown to be a big girl who is sweet, passionate, loving and caring, became the tallest in her class and welcomed her first graduation.  

All these seem happened in just a flash and it is hard to comprehend sometimes. For a moment, I could feel love was pouring out of my heart towards this girl sat next to me. So I gave her a kiss and said:

“Congratulations Olivia, I love you.”

“I love you too, mommy” she replied with a smile and leaned her head against my shoulder. And I froze for a moment, overwhelmed by the sensation of this strong mother and daughter bond between us.