It is the day I have been looking forward to immensely and now that it is here, I am kind of freaking out. My youngest child starts school. Not kiddie campus. Not preschool. Like REAL school. No more diaper changing (which I am oddly missing) and no more spoon feeding. This kid has moved on to holding her own in more ways than one.
About five years I calculated this day out. My oldest would be in 8th grade, my 2nd would be in 3rd grade when my youngest started kindergarten. It seemed so way off. It seemed like the far off future. But now, that moment is here.
Her backpack is packed. Her outfit is clean and the camera is ready for the annual first day of school photo.
I made stops at all four schools the first day to drop off each kid. After I made the last stop and was ready to head into work, a sudden wave of sadness hit me. THAT just happened. All my kids are in school. Not only do I feel old, but I also feel as if life is flashing before my very eyes.
That’s why moments like this make me realize even more how much I need to NOT will my time away. I need to live in the moment and enjoy every smile, every fight, every hair pulling session these kids have. Time goes way too fast.
So why is it that that first day of school is so bittersweet?
This is the start of a chapter they are starting to write for themselves. The handwriting may be a little messy They need us, but not as much as they needed us before. The fruits of my labor are being tested. And while my work is not totally done, I can only hope that they don’t forget to soak in every moment and remember how much I love them!
16 comments
Don’t worry, everything is going to be alright. It’s always hard to let them go when they start school but, when you see how happy she is, you will feel much better.
She looks excited! I think most moms feel that way whenever the youngest starts school. I even cried when my youngest went to preschool.
Oh what a scary and exciting time of you both! Good luck! x
It is definitely an exciting and scary time. Don’t worry, it will all be alright in the long run.
I was like that when my oldest went, but he was TOTALLY ok. By the time my second went, I was like “SEE YA”!
Everything will be fine. I think it’s worse for us than for them. It’s just the natural next step for her,
The first day of kindergarten is always tough. You’re never ready to give them up!
This is such a big moment. It’s cool to see them coming home with new skills and lessons learned each day though.
It is amazing how fast time flies. My nephew also had his first day recently and it was amazing. I cannot believe he is such a big boy.
Every step they take to learn and grow is bittersweet! You will see how amazing will be, you are doing a fantastic mom job!
My niece started first grade this year. My sister cried in the parking lot after she dropped her off the first day.
Well it has been a few weeks since you wrote this…how are things going? Does she love it? How is mom doing. Wait until one of them goes to college. That was the hardest for me.
I remember how nervous i was when my kids started kindergarten. It seems like it was yesterday. Now i have one in College and one in University.
How fast time flies. I can still vividly remember my kids’ first day in school. I think I shed more tears than them. I am just so happy that they adjusted pretty well.
Oh everything will be great! My little one started Kinder a few weeks ago, and it was the worst time I’ve had sending a kiddo but he loves it, and his teacher? Adores him so much. It’s awesome. I still freak out a little at drop off and get teary at pick up!
I remember how upset I was when my youngest went off to Kindergarten. I was the one who was the most upset as he was quite ready to go!