To steal from former Cyclone Coach Paul Rhoads…

“Dexter, I am so damn proud to be your dad”.

This upcoming Tuesday, my son heads off to kindergarten….and even though he’s been going to daycare/pre-school since he was, like, 4 months old…this feels different.

This is….school.

I am excited for him…I’m anxious for him…I’m worried for him…I’m so darn happy for him…I’m just really proud of him.

He’s the nicest, sweetest, most polite kid…and his nickname “The Daymaker” still fits every day…every time I see him, he makes my day.

I know he’s excited for kindergarten…I know he’s a bit worried about it too…”Daddy, do I have to make new friends?” You do buddy, but I tell him…”We’ll put you in a Star Wars shirt…find another kid with a Star Wars shirt…boom friends….the next day, Cubs shirt…find another with a Cubs shirt…boom…friends…next day…Hawkeyes…friends galore.”

I’m excited to pick him up from school…I’m excited for all the times my wife will borrow from Mr. Mom and say “You’re doing it wrong” when it comes to school pick-up. I look forward to having lunch with him every now and then…I look forward to being on the PTO? You know me, I’ll join the PTO, I love to be part of groups, ha ha.

He’s so ready for kindergarten…he’s smart, he’s bright…he wants to learn everything. My hope is that he likes school….I think he will.

He has his Ghosbusters backpack…his IronMan notebook…his pencils…his 75 glue sticks (seriously, what’s with all the glue sticks?)…

…He’s ready.

I don’t know if I am. I think I am….but I think I’m not. He’ll be the one who tells me it’ll be alright daddy.

Love ya buddy…and your mom, you sister, and I are …. super…SUPER proud of you.