We'll Start at the Beginning

Of summer that is . . .

These are Bently's teacher's on his last day of school. Miss Amy, Miss Luz, and Miss Shamima

and then his personal favorite - Mr. Lawrence.

Dear Bently,

There have been so many nights that your dad and I have talked about preschool for you. Should you go? How many days per week should you go? What type of preschool should you go to? The questions seemed endless to me. In my mind the only right thing was for you to stay home with me and your sisters. Thankfully dad was able to see hte bigger picture and fought in your behalf for preschool and independance. You have loved every minute of preschool! You have so many friends there. When you wlk in the door your teacher Mr. lawrence as well as all of your classmates welcome you by yelling "Benlty!!" I love the smile that brings to your face as you push the door open ready for your personal greeting!

Everyone at school knows you because you have quite the imagination. Many days you walk into school riding your horse and donning your cowboy boots and red tattered cowbay hat. First you make your rounds through the room giving high fives and riding your horse as fast as he'll go, then you use the bathroom and wash your hands. Next you exit the room to carefully hang your red bookbag, trusty horse and loved hat. On the days that you do not ride your horse to school you enter serenading the school with your harmonica. Once a month your class takes a field trip to Ravenscroft Elementary School. Usually I have you put your harmonica back into your backpack after you display your talent. However, on this particular day you had stuffed the harmonica down your overalls and on the bus ride to Ravenscroft you pulled out the harmonica and started playing all the way there! You Ravenscroft Buddy was so impressed that he took you to each of the classrooms through Ravenscroft so that they too could enjoy a personl Bently Concert! You are quite good at playing the harmonica and even wave your hand as if you know how to bend the sound. Ahhhh - we love you Bently! More than once I have been asked if you take harmonica lessons. I guess your a natural!

For Christmas you decided to give Mr. Lawrence his very own matching harmonica. He ws thrilled! I will never forget the warmth I feel when I come to pick you up from school and I hear you and Mr. Lawrence playing from the front doors. I follow those sweet sounds all the way to the back of the scool and there you are with your favorite teacher - both playing your harmonicas.

I am so grateful to the teachers at Learning Together. They are good people and really do love you Bently. They have held you in their arms on numerous occasions to rock you to sleep in your oversized froggy blanket. They have given you the love that I thought you would be void of if you were to leave home and go to preschool. No one can ever replace the love we have for our little Boo - but we are so grateful for those who take such excellent care of you and who patiently teach you.

Love, Mommy