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| Image courtesy of Moi Cody, rgbstock.com |
I can't believe how quickly the school year has gone. It seems like yesterday that I was taking his first-day-of-school picture on the front step. He was so excited, thrilled to be going to preschool at last, but now it's all old hat for him, and he can't wait to move on to kindergarten. Yesterday he had his kindergarten screening, and I took him for a walk through the halls of his new school. His eyes lit up when he saw all the cool, "big kid" stuff, and he told me he wants to start going there tomorrow!
I know I'm going to be a teary mess when I see him walking into the gym tonight, and I'll probably be sobbing outright when he receives his diploma. It's hard to believe that the baby born by an emergency C-section in late February 2007 is now a smart, capable, independent little boy ready to go off to all-day kindergarten without me.
For the past few months, my daughter has been telling me that she doesn't want her brother to go to school because she's going to miss him too much.
All I can tell her is that I will, too.
So does anyone want to cheer me up and keep me from crying all over my keyboard? And more seriously, for those of you who have trod this path before, do you have any advice for me?
Aww, bless you! <3 I can't really offer you any advice, but I can give you virtual hugs! :D
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks. Hugs are very needed and much appreciated!
DeleteAwwww. My 3 y/o grand kiddie goes to preschool next year. I have been trying to get him all excited about riding the school bus, but he says, he is not riding on a 'kool bus. :) So, should be really interesting.
ReplyDeleteMy son really wants to ride the bus next year, but I don't think I'm quite ready for that. I'll be driving him. :)
DeleteOne of my mom's favorite stories to illustrate how opposite my sister and I are is the first day of kindergarden for both of us:
ReplyDeleteMy first day involved tearful pleas not to leave me, and promises that I only had to be there for half of the day. For some reason knowing that I could leave at lunch time made me a lot happier.
My sister's first day involved her turning to my (hovering) mom and saying "You can go now", followed by outrage when she found out there was an all day option but she was only getting to go for half a day.
At least your son is happy about it. My mom said she felt less guitly leaving my sister at school. And now you'll have a pre-school diploma to frame. :-) That's cheery, right?
You're right! Framing the diploma is a cheery thought. :)
DeleteWhen I started school, I was more like your sister. My mom wanted to wait outside for the bus with me, but I wouldn't let her. I could do it myself! Once I was actually in kindergarten, though, I was more like you. I just wanted to go home. Oh, well. Fickle. LOL
Danielle, I was the same as your sister, but in first grade, since I didn't go to kindergarten. I just wanted my mother to go home, and I just didn't understand why some of the other girls were bawling.
DeleteAwww. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm very proud of him. :)
DeleteIf you think you're crying now, wait until you start dealing with the politics of Room Mothers and PTA. Kidding. Just savor the moments.
ReplyDeleteLOL Thanks, Wendy. :)
DeleteAww come to my blog, I've got awards to cheer you up!
ReplyDeleteJust noticed you have them both. Maybe I need to make you a 'One Lovely Dana Award' instead!
Aww, you're sweet. :)
DeleteThanks, Nikki!
Congratulations! I know you're a very proud mom. :-)
ReplyDeleteI didn't go to preschool or kindergarten, and only high school had a graduation ceremony.
We also only had high school graduation when I was in school. My sister, who's three years younger, had kindergarten graduation, so they must have started it in our school around then.
DeleteThanks, Eliza! I'm very proud of him. :)
no good advice here--except to always keep those tissues on hand--thinking of ya <3
ReplyDeleteThanks for the thoughts! :)
DeleteYou are in such a sweet place. I love the young years! it's OK to be sad about your kids growing up. You still have high school graduation and college graduation. You will enjoy time alone w/ your girl while your big boy is in school in the fall. And it will be so exciting and fun to see the creative things he will bring home in first grade! Enjoy the tears...they are good ones.
ReplyDeleteYou're very sweet. Thank you!
DeleteHe will actually be going into kindergarten, but I'm sure he'll still be bringing home tons of cute and creative things. You're right: I have so much to look forward to. I appreciate the perspective. :)
I had that fear with the first kid. But by the time the third one came along, I couldn't wait!
ReplyDeleteThe first kid, btw, will be heading to college in the fall. We'll see how I feel come August. :)
Good luck! College is probably even harder--although that's hard for me to imagine right now!
DeleteAwww, that's so sweet! They grow up fast, don't they? I don't have any advice, other than to bring a full box of tissues. And if you wear makeup, make it waterproof!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! I'm packing the Kleenex right now. :)
DeleteIt's so nice you guys have a graduation for preschooler too. It teaches them to appreciate and actually like going to school :)
DeleteHugs
I agree. I just got home, and the ceremony was so cute!
DeleteI remember that feeling so well. I made sure I had a big slice of cake waiting for me at home after I dropped #2 son off for his first day.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been able to think that far ahead yet. I'm glad my daughter won't be going to preschool until she's four (she'll be three next month). I don't think I could handle it. :)
DeleteTake it all in! Take pictures or videos. It all goes by so very quickly. Everybody says that--but they say it because it is true. I never knew how long my son would live from the time he was born, so I relished every milestone and probably paid closer attention than a lot of people--and it flew by! Flew by! I wish we had had videos and digital cameras. Most all of my pictures are in my head because I couldn't afford film very often. Enjoy, Lady! Enjoy these sweet moments! And cry if you want to. :):)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this, Rita. Your comment made me cry--but in a good way. I'm enjoying it all. :)
DeleteI'll be in your shoes soon enough. I've heard that a lot of moms experience similar feelings. The days are long, but the years short. I hope you can make it through everything okay!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Emily. I'm back home now, the kids are in bed, and I'm here crying at the computer. My son is fine; he's perfectly okay with the fact that preschool is over. I'm taking it a lot harder. Unfortunately for me, my husband doesn't really understand, so I feel kind of alone right now. I'll be fine, I'm sure. It's all just overwhelming and even harder than I expected.
DeleteThanks again for your well-wishes.
Congrats!
ReplyDeleteI had a little young boy this year who tried very hard not to cry on the first 2 days of school. I didn't have to pry him off his mother but he was reluctant in line. On the 3rd day I opened the gate to find him in line smiling...as his mom bent down to kiss him good bye his littel sister began balling! She realized that this leaving him here every day was a pattern and she wanted him home ot play with.
Enjoy this age...it's so cool! I will miss my kinders next year when i teach 1st.
I'm trying so hard not to miss anything that I feel like I'm missing everything. That probably makes sense to no one but me. ;)
DeleteMy son is doing great. He doesn't seem to mind at all that he won't be seeing his classmates all the time. I, on the other hand, am a mess. Is it weird that I miss his teachers?
My experience with this sort of thing is that it gets easier and easier. My kids only had 8th grade promotion and high school graduation ceremonies (well, there were also two college graduations but neither went to their graduation ceremonies) - but it did get easier. The steps in the little kid days were the hardest for me. maybe you too? One can hope?
ReplyDeleteI think you might be right, although it's hard for me to know yet. These days are so bittersweet...
DeleteAw, that's so sweet! My kids were kinda bratty between 3-5 (no terrible twos) so to be honest I couldn't wait for the longer school days (I happened to be between jobs and at home with my youngest and I thought I was going to go insane). My oldest will graduate from HS and leaving the house in two years. That's when I'll cry. At least I'll still have the (now) 8yo! You'll do fine and the next adventure is even more fun!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement, Stacie. In fact, all of you have been wonderful with your advice and kind words. I'm going to look back on these comments whenever I'm feeling like I am right now.
DeleteThanks again. :)
That's so sweet. Hugs for you, and chocolate! :) My son starts his first year of preschool this August. He and I have not been separated since he was born. I don't know which one of us will have more separation anxiety! I tell myself it will be great to have a few mornings a week to write... if I don't just end up waiting in the car for him!
ReplyDeleteMy son and I had never been separated either, but I think it was probably harder on me than on him when he started preschool.
DeleteGood luck to you--and thank you for the hugs (and chocolate!).
Oh how cute! I'm here so late tonight he has probably graduated by now and you were a bucket full of tears :) I have no wisdom; it doesn't get any easier as they go to the next milestone, like kindergarten graduation, sixth grade graduation, etc. My only advice, enjoy each and every single day and don't rush anything; even the hard days; because they go by so fast!!!
ReplyDeletebetty
I cried at the ceremony, but not for the reasons I thought I would. (I wrote about that in today's post.)
DeleteI appreciate your advice. :)
My daughter was okay with my son going to preschool and kindergarten without her, but when she was in 4th grade and he moved up to middle school, she cried every morning for the first week of school. She had a beloved teacher, her friends in her class, a year set to be awesome, but not walking to school with her brother was heart breaking. He, on the other hand, was man enough to not show it with tears, but it was obvious he missed walking her to school.
ReplyDeleteI love this memory because it shows how much my kids love each other!
So sweet! My kids are close like that, too. I hope they always are.
DeleteAww, congrats momma! Don't be sad! :HUGS:
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jaycee. :)
DeleteYou should be proud that you've raised such a kind-hearted, independent, and precious child! Now, the first day of school is hard, but I actually didn't cry because I felt a sense of personal accomplishment and pride that my child made it to school. Once they walk through those doors, they get to really start figuring out who they are and what they are on this earth to accomplish. It's fascinating and a privilege to experience with them. Just pay attention to things he says, new "words" he brings home, and other cues he gives you that are meant to tell you that something needs fixing, he needs to talk through something, or any other number of issues. That is the only way I can sometimes get stuff out of my boys, and it pays to listen. Oh, and people aren't kidding. The best place to converse with a kid of any age is in a moving car when they don't feel your eyes boring into them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this. You've given me a new way of looking at my fears. You're right: my son won't be "leaving" me when he goes to school, but he'll be getting the opportunity to learn about himself and life. I've been so hung up on the sadness that I never thought of this before. It really helps.
DeleteI'll remember the moving car tip. :)