Award

One week ago today, Aunt Tricia walked into my house to pick up Lainey. And she said, "I need to tell you something that's going to upset you."

Quite a preface.

She proceeded to tell me that she'd been at the elementary school for an awards ceremony because Daniel was presented with an award. I hadn't known about the ceremony because it seems that only parents of students winning an award were informed.

However.

Tricia then told me that Jacob won an award.

I felt surprised, happy, and proud. So proud. But then, I felt annoyed with the school because of their oversight. And very upset (I'd been warned!). Upset that I'd missed his first ever awards ceremony in school and his first ever award. Apparently his teacher realized her mistake, and approached Tricia following the ceremony, saying, "I think we may have forgotten to send a note home with Jacob." Tricia was quick to assure her that, yes, they absolutely had.

Instead of crying (I managed to hold off on that until I was alone), I began bombarding Tricia with questions. What kind of award? Was he excited? What did Daniel get an award in? Was he excited? Did everyone in the class get some kind of award? The answer to the last question is no. Only a select few in each Kindergarten classroom, which makes the award even more special.

Tricia told me Jacob had been happy and excited. Which made me simultaneously happy and sad. I could just picture the smile that would have been on his face if he'd been able to look out in the crowd and spot me and Jeff in the audience.

She'd asked Jacob if he wanted her to take his certificate, or if he'd rather keep it and tell me about it himself after school. He chose to keep it because he wanted to surprise me with the news.
So when it was time for me to pick Jacob up from school later that afternoon, I was pretty excited. As I walked, I wondered if he would tell me right away, and imagined us stopping in the grass as he pulled the certificate out of his backpack. I even took my camera with me, envisioning the shot I'd capture of him beaming excitedly as he shared his news with me.

I kind of built it up quite a bit in my head. It actually went like this:
Me: "How was your day?"
Jacob: "Good."
Me: "What did you do today?"
Jacob: "Nothing."
Me: "Nothing? Did you go to Art?"
Jacob: "No. We didn't have our Specials today."
Me: "Oh? Why not?"
Daniel: "Because we won awards! I won two and Jacob won one!"
Me: "That's great, Daniel! Jacob, did you win an award?!"
Jacob: "Yep."
Me: "What kind of award?"
Jacob: "A rainbow award."
A rainbow award? And then I remembered the paper the award was printed on was very colorful.
Me: "Wow! Do you want to show it to me?"
Jacob: "I'll show it to you when we get home."

The whole conversation was a bit anticlimactic. My imagined photograph would clearly not be happening. I was a little disappointed by his lack of excitement, but then realized:
1) He's FIVE.
2) He's tired after a long week at school and wants to play with his cousins instead of being interrogated by his mother.
3) Clearly I understood the significance of the award better than he. And my absence at the awards ceremony was harder on me than him. Realizing that made me feel better about missing it.

Luckily, Tricia and her dad took pictures. And although I still would have rather been at the ceremony to see him accept his award in person, the pictures are definitely the next best thing and I'm so grateful for them.





"Hey, Tricia, look at this cool rainbow award."


Time for pictures of the boys with their impressive awards!

Jacob won Outstanding Achievement in Science. Daniel won Perfect Attendance and Outstanding Achievement in Citizenship. Way to go, guys!


I think it's pretty clear they're happy for each other.



And proud? Yea, I'd say so.


That evening, he got to choose whatever he wanted for dinner. I knew what he would choose before the words came out of his mouth.
"Wendy's! A cheeseburger, fries, and a Frosty!"

I love this kid. We are so proud of Jacob for his "rainbow award". And for his outstanding achievement in Science and Kindergarten!