All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

My youngest daughter officially graduates from kindergarten today as it’s the last day of school.

Part of me is really sad. And part of me is really excited for her.

I’m sad because my youngest of 3 kids is no longer a “baby.”

I’m happy because she is advancing into the next stage of elementary school. How fast it goes!

McKenna with Mrs Pool;
Melanie, McKenna, & Me on Graduation Day

At the actual graduation ceremony/party held a few days ago, the kids all shared a version of one of my favorite poems of all-time:
“ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN.”

This version of the well-known poem comes from McKenna’s incredible kindergarten teacher Mrs. Pool. It applies as much to adults as it does to these young precious souls:

ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN

1. Share everything.
2. Play fair.
3. Don’t hit people.
4. Put things back where you found them.
5. Clean up your own mess.
6. Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
7. Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.
8. Wash your hands before you eat.
9. Flush!
10. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
11. Live a balanced life.
12. Learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
13. Take a nap every afternoon.
14. When you go out into the world, watch for traffic.
15. Hold hands and stick together.
16. Be aware of wonder.
17. Remember the little seed in the plastic cup.
18. The roots go down and the plant goes up.
19. And nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
20. Think of what a better world it would be if we put things back where we found them and cleaned up our own messes.
21. And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together!

Congratulations McKenna! May all your dreams come true.

And to all of us, may we apply these rules for our lives so that the world can be a better place.

Ask yourself, which of these 21 “rules” most speaks to you? And then go DO THEM!

Much love… and much wisdom.