We Did It: Surviving the First Day of School

Dear Little Crafter,

We did it, you and I!  I’m so proud of us both.  We made your first day of school an exciting time, a great beginning to what I hope will become a lifelong love for learning and education.  I’ll never forget the huge smile on your face when I woke you up and you said, “It’s my first day of school!”  I loved jumping on the bed with you and then helping you to get dressed and ready for your big day.  You looked so big, so handsome, so ready for this.

firstday

It was fun surprising you with a trip to Dunkin’  Donuts for breakfast to celebrate…ah, the breakfast of champions.  I wanted to keep your excitement going and keep your mind {and mine} focused on something other than the fact that you and I were going to be apart all day.

schoolbfastAs we drove, you told me, “I am going to have the best day at school!”  What happiness that brought to my heart.  Yes, with an outlook like that, you ARE going to have the best day…today and every day.  I hope you never lose that.  As we got closer to school, I found myself starting to drive a little slower.  The person behind me didn’t understand, but I was trying to prolong my time with you.  To savor every moment.  When we finally arrived, I couldn’t put it off any longer.  The administrators, Mr. L. and Mrs. H. were waiting to help you out of the car and welcome you to this new season in your life.  I watched as you walked off hand in hand with Mrs. H., chatting away about our time at Dutch Wonderland yesterday and all the rides you got to ride.

school2It killed me inside not to be able to hug and kiss you in that moment, but I knew it was for the best.  My tears would only cause you to cry or be sad, and I didn’t want that for you.  No, you keep being excited.  Keep chattering.  Keep walking into your future with a smile.  Me?  Well, I made it to the next street over before my tears started flowing.  I cried halfway home, not because I’m sad for you; I know you’re going to have the best day, right?  But because the seat behind me was empty and I already missed your giggles and endless stream of, “Guess what, Mommy…”  By the time I got close to home, I had dried my tears enough to stop by the grocery store and the library.  I went to the store you don’t like and I just used the drive-up drop off for my movies.  I think subconsciously I was avoiding “our” special places and anyone who might want to talk to me about you.

firstday2

I bet you were very busy today!  Me too.  I vacuumed, dusted, swept the floor, ran a load of laundry, ran the dishwasher, cleaned the toilet, and straightened the house.  All before 10:30.  I can’t remember the last time I did all those things on the same day, let alone before lunchtime.  The house is very quiet.  I ate lunch by myself.  That felt strange.  I thought about you eating your lunch and reading the note I sent you.  I hoped you were eating well, Mr. Picky-Pants.  All day long, I wondered what you were doing.  I counted the hours until I get to pick you up and hear about every single thing while I treat you to frozen yogurt.  It’s so strange being apart from you for so long and not knowing what you’re up to.

It’s hard sometimes to be the Mommy.  But I can rest a little easier knowing that you’re at the perfect school for you.  A place where Respect, Humility, Gratitude, Kindness, Responsibility, and Integrity are the foundations of your education.  I miss you like crazy, but you’re going to rock this.

firstday3

I love you to the moon and back infinity times!

Love, Mommy

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16 Comments

  1. Okay, I must be emotional right now. Maybe it’s my sleeping babies upstairs or maybe it’s that I feel like I know LC even though we’ve never actually met. You are such a great mom, Amy and he is the luckiest boy on Earth to have you! This brought tears to my eyes and makes me want time to absolutely stand still! Congratulations on LC’s first day at school and mommy’s first day just having some “mommy time”. It sounds like you were both brave and did great!!

  2. Oh Amy. I’m crying with you. It seems like just the other day my little guy was walking through the doors and into kindergarten. This year he started his senior year of high school. The time flew by in a blink. Savor every school pick up, after school snack and dinner. I know I am because next year, when my little guy starts his first day of gulp… college, he won’t be coming home after school – and I’ll be a complete wreck!

    1. Thank you, Carolyn…I can’t even think about high school, let alone college. He told me last night that he had lots of fun but he thinks he’ll “retire” when he’s 18 so he can be at home with me again. Sniffle!

  3. Hate to say it, but it doesn’t get any easier. My big kiddo started 5th grade, the last year in elementary school this year. My heart ached when I dropped him off. Plus, school is mundane, part of the routine for him. He didn’t seem to focus on it was the last time I would drive him to the first day of school at his elementary school. 🙁

  4. O, I cried when I was reading your story. You wrote it so well. I live in the Netherlands, kids usually are home at lunchtime and go back to school after lunchtime, until they got 12 and go to the next school, where they stay all day and have to make homework when they come home. My son is going there now, for about 2 1/2 weeks and I miss him so much at lunchtimes. He’s so tired when he’s coming home (has to bike for about 12 kilometres (7 miles) one way) and then he has to do his homework…I see him struggeling to get a grip on all new things of life and of course I help…but we both wishes that he was on his previous school, where he could play at school and after school, have to bike 1 kilometre (0,75 miles) one way and relax at lunchtime…I know it will be alright, I have an elder one too who went to the same stuff, but…well I just miss him.

  5. so glad he survived and THRIVED on the first day!! My son is in half day again this year… so glad to ease into it… I’m not ready for full days next year :o)

  6. I’m so glad that he had such a wonderful and exciting day. It’s so strange, isn’t it, realizing that our kids are actually our company during the day, and not just our responsibilities…

    It sounds like you’ve raised a pretty wonderful little guy. I’m sure that he’s going to have a great year!

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