My five-year-old son climbed aboard the school bus and roared off to kindergarten today, and although I did shed a tear at his impatient "I want to go now," I'm doing surprisingly well at the moment. My three-year-old and I spent the morning running errands, picking up library books, and baking brownies. She's now taking her nap, and I'm glad to have two hours to myself. I don't plan on doing much—no laundry or dishes or other chores. Instead, I think I'll read and celebrate the fact that I'm making it through the day. And you know what? I'm happy. ☺
Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" has always held special meaning for me, and the lyrics have been going through my mind most of the day. I love this video. Armstrong's smile is infectious—who could feel anything but happy?
How is your day going, friends?
Aww, I know it must be sad but that's great that he's excited for school. Sounds like you two had a great morning, you definitely need a bit of time to yourself to relax. ;)
ReplyDeleteHe had a great day! It's hard to be away from him, but knowing he's happy makes it easier.
DeleteI took that relaxation time. :)
So happy for you that you made it through that initial letting go and are having a good day! It is a hard adjustment. I'm thinking of all the fun my three year old and I just had coloring together! (which might not have happened if her brother wasn't in kindergarten today)
ReplyDeleteI cried when he got off the bus this afternoon—I was so happy to see him! I suspect I'll have my sad days, but I'm looking forward to spending time with my daughter. :)
DeleteThat is indeed a great song. By now you've probably greeted the bus and heard a marvelous tale about what fun school is.
ReplyDeleteI have, and he's full of tales! :) I did cry when he got off the bus, though. He just seemed so grown up...
DeleteAw. I hope your son had a great day. Both of mine loved their first day, but I felt sorry for those kids (and parents) who were crying and wanted to go home - that's so much harder!
ReplyDeleteHe had a great day, and that makes me feel a lot better!
DeleteIt's a milestone for you AND your son! Enjoy your time with your daughter! And enjoy your time when she takes a nap!
ReplyDeleteNaptime was great today! My daughter was so tired from the early wake-up this morning that she went right to sleep. Yay!
DeleteCongrats on the milestone! Hope he had a fun first day.
ReplyDeleteI love that song! I had never seen him sing it live. Thanks for sharing. (I'm glad you survived the first day of school. And I noticed you're a "not-so-thirty something mom" now. LOL! Me too!)
ReplyDeleteI figured it was about time I changed that. Haha!
DeleteThe peace and quiet is nice, huh?
ReplyDeleteI miss the days of babies and naps and Disney. I am alone in the quiet too much these days....
I am glad it was easy to get your son on the school bus!! Hope he had a great day and I do love that song!!
He really had a wonderful day. :)
DeleteThe quiet at naptime today was awesome. I'd forgotten what it was like to hear myself think!
I remember when my little one first went to school, I bought a magazine with the intention of reading it with a quiet cup of coffee but as soon as I sat down I promptly burst in to tears. Needless to say he actually loved his first day at school.
ReplyDeleteIt's so much harder on us than them, isn't it? :)
DeleteCongrats to the big guy on making it through his first day of Kindergarten! I don't know how I will handle putting my guy on a bus.
ReplyDeleteThanks! He's so proud of himself—and I'm very proud of him!
DeleteYou're such a positive, yet down-do-earth person, Dana. I enjoy your blog because I want to see what silver lining in a dark cloud you'll see next. I hope I can endeavor to be more positive like you. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's very sweet of you to say. Thank you, Cathy. :)
DeleteMy "What a Wonderful World" ends with the kids going off to college.
ReplyDeleteAnd me getting little weepy.
It's all good now, though.
I can walk around the house in my underwear and no teenagers get skeeved.
Although the dog howls.
Ha!
DeleteSometimes our state of happiness comes from simple things and often when we are content, we are happiest! :D
ReplyDeleteYes, sometimes the simple things are the best. :)
DeleteCongrats on surviving his first day! I bet the little extra time will be nice and he'll love it. :) You are doing great!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Krista. :)
DeleteAw - that's neat that it was his first day. And you have picked just the perfect theme song for your day.
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteI had the awesome pleasure of teaching a K-2 class in a local public school for ten years. I loved every minute of that time - I had the children for three years and got to watch them go from barely knowing the alphabet to reading chapter books. I needed and loved parent participation so we became like a family. This song was one of our theme songs! There is a children't book with cool illustrations and we painted homage pictures and listened to and yes sang along to Louie. There is also a cool version by the Hawaiian singer Iz - he does a poignant rendition of this song blended with Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Oh my, talk about bringing tears to the eyes....
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1sj2gQJIKI
Thanks for your post!
That sounds like a wonderful job! How blessed you were to get to see those kids grow.
DeleteThanks for the link. :)
I can only imagine how hard it is to send your little one to school for the first time! But once you get used to it...you'll probably enjoy having a bit more time to yourself. And I agree with the previous poster about that version of the song...so, so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is taking a nap right now, and the house is more quiet than it's been in years. It's nice.
DeleteI'll definitely check out that version. :)
Good for you! It's hard to let our babies go out on their own, but I think that kid is ready! It'll be nice to just have time with your daughter now too. I commend you for putting him on the bus, though. I haven't had to do that, and I don't plan to. That may have made it harder for you, but you still did it! Good for you! Now go have a brownie for me and read a lot!
ReplyDeletePutting him on that bus was so hard. He loves it, though, so I'll probably continue to let him ride it, but I think I'll insist on driving him once in a while, too. :)
DeleteI'll definitely be reading today! I'm just finishing up a book I love. I've got to find out how it ends! :)
Dana it is also one of my favourites I often listen to it. So optimistic and beautiful and that "Oh yeah" at the end gives me shivers.
ReplyDeleteI agree: it's such a beautiful song.
DeleteAh, yes! Those mixed-feelings days. ;)
ReplyDeleteI love this song, too. I love happy songs celebrating life. Even "Don't Worry, Be Happy!" LOL! :):)
That's a good way of describing them: "those mixed-feelings days." :)
DeleteNow I have "Don't Worry, Be Happy" stuck in my head!
So glad the first day went well!!! I'm glad you had the aft. to yourself. I pray your son has a wonderful year~! How did the brownies turn out? :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, mare. So far he loves kindergarten!
DeleteThe brownies were just from a mix, but they were really good. We'll be baking more soon. :)
AWWW...Love it!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are choosing to live and enjoy each precious moment!
Thanks, Cheryl. I'm sure trying. :)
Delete