How old were you when Santa ceased to exist? When the reality of his existence went up like smoke in a chimney into the cold winter air.

I want to say that I was eight or nine years old at the time. I can’t recall exactly how it happened, or even where but I it more than likely happened in grade school.

Grade school is just the first of many world expansions that we find thrust upon us whether we like it or not. Holiday figures such as Santa and the Easter Bunny hardly stood any chance of survival.

My son is six and a half now. Kindergarten has been a real learning experience for him. Karin and I have delighted in seeing him grow into a little boy.

But how many years does he have left before Santa stops being real? One? Two? I can only hope for at least that, if we are lucky.

The important thing is that we have kept the “Christ” in Christmas. Santa has never taken the spotlight in our house, and my plan when the myth of Santa Claus fades is to teach Maverick about the original of Santa Claus.

Its something that after almost thirty-eight years I take completely for granted. Like most I don’t have to think about reading — what is that word? what does it mean? — or writing — how does it look? how did I form that letter “a” ?

For my six year old son, its an entirely different story. Kindergarten, and learning to read. Not something I remember from way back when in kindergarten, about the most I can muster from those days is a memory of a prop hatchet that my Dad made for a class play and the fact that it wasn’t returned much to my dismay.

What I find myself struggling with is how I can best help him with learning to read and write. His teachers are great, and their teaching materials are amazing. But it doesn’t change the fact that right not its hard for him, and he get frustrated easy.

Through the praise and encouragement I asked him today if he had ever heard the phrase –

“Practice Makes Perfect.”

He shook his head no and I went on to tell him that it means that we only get better at things by practicing. I brought up his experience riding the bike, how when he started he kept falling and was having a really rough time with it.

But he stuck with it, and before he knew it he was riding his bike with relative ease. He succeeded because he practiced. The correlation worked well, and I could tell by his eyes that he understood what I was talking about. But it didn’t make it any easier.

I just can’t wait for him to be able to unlock the secret worlds and adventures that await him in the book world. With an imagination like his it will be as much of a candy store for him as it is for me.

Well we are fresh back from dropping Maverick off at kindergarten. The ladies (Karin & Betty) are off shopping to give me some quiet time before Karin puts my ass to work cleaning the house in preparation for her party tonight (I love my days off).

This morning started with one excited boy, he was in a good mood and not at all hesitant or scared like I feared he might be. At times he can be pretty shy, so I had hoped today would go well and it did thankfully.

We ate some of Betty’s banana bread and drank some coffee that Karin has added Tastefully Simple Vanilla Bean chiller mix to which was totally kick ass tasting. At 8:25 AM we headed out for pictures and to join the “Mom Parade” as Karin calls, heading down to the school.

I really think talking up how cool school is helped Maverick, he clearly was not afraid or hesitant, excitement bubbled behind his eyes. As we came closer to the school the ladies started to feel more emotional. I was waiting for the waterworks from Karin, I really thought she would be bawling like a baby, but alas and alack — they never came. Good for you Karin!

Grandma Betty on the other had, did not fare so well. There were tears, but they were well hidden. My attempts to capture them with the camera were met with disdain, and generally failed. All in all, it was a pretty cool experience. It really made me think back to when I was in kindergarten.

Its amazing the things I still remember — the door outside, my friend Jim, my mom taking our photo, the hooks outside the room, the orange day glow chairs in the room. Looking over their curriculum for the year its wild how much different, how much more educational the kindergarten program is today compared to when I was in kindergarten some 32, almost 33 years ago.

This Friday is my son Maverick’s first day of kindergarten. I can hardly believe that he is six! It seems like yesterday that I was holding this little bundle of crying boy child in my arms and wondering what his life would be like. Wondering how I would be as a Father.

And now its six years later. We have had bumps, falls, bruises, laughter, crying, joy. We have changed disgusting diapers, smelled things no human should have to smell, and been more excited about potty training than any basketball/football or hockey championship.

We have watched his personality develop and taken pride in his good natured kindness to his friends, family and pets. I have cheered as he has embraced Star Wars, and shaken my head at his insistence on tucking in his shirt, no matter what type.

And now he is headed to kindergarten. Its the start of his school career, and in a way, the end of his innocence. There will be things I can’t shield him from, people who will take advantage of his good nature — slowly, slowly but surely, his innocence will start to be lost.

Its an odd thing to consider really. I love seeing him grow up, and hope that his school experience is more enjoyable than mine ever was. In retrospect I am so glad that we decided to wait until he was six to start kindergarten. He is so much more ready emotionally for school.

I used to dread going to school, and now I find myself dreading this Friday. I know in my head that time doesn’t stop for anyone, but in a selfish sort of way I kind of wish it could. I love him. He is the best thing that ever happened to us, and while I will smile and be excited for him, inside I will, and I know Karin will be sorry to see our baby go to school.