While most parents were counting down the days until the infamous (or maybe still are counting) first day back to school so they could breathe a collective sigh of rest I wasn’t. Â Okay who am I kidding, the thought of being kid free for 6.5 hours a day 5 days a week for XX amount of weeks a year, I was a little giddy. Â Then came the real countdown where you are only a few days away and the realization that you are going to be kid-less for the first time in almost 11 years hits you. Â And I not so proudly turned into this……..
Something I thought would bring me a huge relief has turned me into a non diaper wearing cry baby. Â Last year I cried a wee bit when my middle strutted off to kindergarten but part of that was due to his fear of new things and seeing him shed the tears of not wanting to go to school. Â Then two weeks later I cried because he wasn’t crying anymore and wanted to go to school. Â So really there is no pleasing me in this scenario I guess.
This year ALL 3 of my children have gone off to school. Â My little girl buddy started kindergarten with excitement just like my oldest did when he started. Â I don’t think I was quite ready for her to grow up and be excited to go to school. Â Seems like just yesterday she was my itty bitty baby that relied on mom for every little thing, now she says bye mommy and prances into the school ready to face the world. Â How in the world did that happen?
My middle is as usual the one that has the hardest time with adjusting. Â He is not a big fan of school to begin with but eventually he will get adjusted. Â Last year it took him about 3 weeks so hopefully this year it won’t take as long. Â Yesterday he cried at school and this morning was trying to be so brave that his little eyes got so red from trying to hold back the tears while telling me he didn’t want to go to school. Â I assured him it was okay to be a little afraid with a new teacher and tears are okay too. Â I promised him just like last year even though he was scared at first he will get used to it and like it. Â And on the plus side they get out at 1:45 so they have more play time in the afternoon. Â Now I didn’t let him know that he is still going to school the same amount of time as last year since he is going much earlier LOL. Â Hey as a parent we do what we need to right.
My oldest, loved his teacher and said he had a great first day. Â I am hoping that he still sings that tune once he is bombarded with the homework I know they will get this year. Â Hey it is his last year before middle school so they have to get them ready yet. Â My main concern with him is he likes to get stuff finished first so he rushes and makes mistakes that are so trivial they shouldn’t be made. Â I am really stressing to him if he took his time (even if that means homework in the evenings) he could make all A’s instead of A’s and B’s. Â So that is our main working point this year.
My heart hurts for Aidan who doesn’t want to be at school and then hurts just the same over Bella and Gabriel who are loving school and don’t look back when saying Bye Mom.  Sigh….it’s a no win situation I guess.  We want them to grow up and be independent then when they are it makes us sad.  Or maybe I am just a strange creature.  Well soon very soon I will come to enjoy this new found freedom I hope, after all I have a whole entire beach waiting for me to enjoy…kid-less!
Toni Patton
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Funny,mention this! MamaM and I posted along the same lines over the last day! Boohoo
http://nhmommaof5.blogspot.com/2010/08/growing-pains.html
http://nhmommaof5.blogspot.com/2010/08/season-of-change.html
I know exactly how you feel. I want my boys to be strong and independent, but the first day of school is more hard on me than I think it is on them! My oldest is so excited to go back to school and I’m excited too! But now we’re less than a week away from starting school and I’m starting to feel a little bummed. I’m sure I’ll cry like a big baby the moment I get back into my car after dropping him off for his first day of school. I think it’s a mommy thing?! I don’t see any Dad’s worrying about this! Ha ha!