Today I took the boys down to the elementary school that Mister will be attending this coming fall to get him registered for kindergarten. I dressed the boys in cute clothes, did their hair and even cleaned under their fingernails. Yes, I'm vain and wanted the school office ladies who will get to know Mister over the next 6 years to think my kids are cute.
But as I was filling out all those pages of paperwork I realized that I was having very mixed feelings about my baby being old enough to go to kindergarten. I was having memory flashes of him as a baby and thinking that surely not enough time had passed to make him old enough for this transition. But as I kept glancing over at him as he was happily chatting up anyone and everyone in the office I realized he really has grown up a lot. Especially in the last year. Then I started thinking about it in numbers. As in I only have these next 6 months, FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE, when he'll be home with me full time. After the 6 month mark we'll forever be beholden to the school's schedule. Sometimes having kids at home all the time can be exhausting but in the scheme of things it's just such a short amount of time before they're off doing other things. So yeah, I got a little misty-eyed thinking about all this. And I'm determined to make the next 6 months some of the most fun months for us all to enjoy together.
I used to kind of roll my eyes when parents would talk wistfully about their child's first day of school and say how, invariably, they always cried more than their children did. I kept thinking, man, I'd be so excited to have a quiet house again. Or to not have to pay for daycare anymore (obviously that thought was before I was a stay-home mom). Before I was a parent I thought I was a total expert in the art and couldn't fathom why parents always got emotional over these seemingly teeny things. But as I've gone through motherhood so far I've found that I really didn't know anything. I thought I was an expert and I really didn't know jack. All those cliches that always elicited an eye roll are actually true, much to my surprise.
Ah well, if there's one thing I've learned so far, it's that motherhood isn't for the faint of heart. It's by far the toughest thing I've ever done and will continue to do even after my children are grown up with families of their own. Like how my mom is always worried if I'm driving anywhere far, she always wants me to call her when I get there so she doesn't worry. And I do it much more readily since I've become a mom myself and I know all about a mother's worry, instead of rolling my eyes and just thinking she's being over-protective like when I was a teenager (sorry Mom). Apparently it never goes away.....
9 comments:
Once a Mother...always a Mother...no matter the age of her child. Glad you understand my side a bit more. I love you!
My mom is the same way - she can't help but worry and I understand it now.
And, I hear you on the school schedule thing. Mom and I were just talking about that during my last visit out there. It's so easy for me now to pick up and go visit them, but once Olivia gets in school, we won't be able to go spend a week out there whenever we want to. At least I have a little time before I have to worry about that.
I can't wait to hear all of the stories he's going to come home with after starting school!
Just wait till the last one starts school.
Next year my baby starts full day school and first grade. How did that happen? And my oldest is in 6th grade. I just don't know where the time goes. I miss those times at home all the time so DO enjoy it while you can.
This is so true. Preston is no where near the age of kindergarten yet, but I recently had the same epiphany as you when I started taking him over to a few friends' house to be babysat. In Feb, I was taking him to different peoples' houses 3 days a week for 4 weeks. It was hard! He would cry and not want me to leave him there...I felt terrible and like a bad mom (I had to leave him there while I taught piano). I imagined what it will be like when he goes to school for the first time.
So yeah....you never think you'll be like that until you have kids of your own. :)
I can't believe our boys are old enough to be starting school in the fall. Where did the time go?!
It is so true Marissa....it does not matter what age our children are we will always worry about them! The kids use to laugh because I cried when they all started kindergarten & then when they all started Junior High I cried and then when they went into High School I cried. They knew it was going to happen & as they got older they thought oh no here we go again & they knew that it was hard on me. The time does go so fast! I can not believe my oldest turned 31. Enjoy every second of every minute of every day with your kids!
Oh I know I will totally be like you when it is time for Savanna to go to kindergarten. I've already started thinking about it here adn there or just even preschool and she is only two. It is true that the moments with our children are so precious but at the same time it is so rewarding to see them grow, develop, and become more independent.
The hardest time for me was when you went off to college. I knew you would never again live with me and that hit me hard.
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