The tears were flowing and the hugs were tight at daycare this morning. Will was fine. It was me. Honest to god, I think the teachers there must all meet up in the coffee room at 9am and discuss what a basket case Will’s mother is.
Today was Will’s first day in the preschool. At his daycare that means he moves to the big boy side of the school. For some reason, I’m finding this tough to wrap my head around.
How did he go from this…
To starting daycare….
**dudes – this is birthday cake…in case you thought I was delusionally smiling while covered in poop**
I remember taking him to daycare on his first day. He couldn’t walk or talk. He took to it right away and has never looked back. We go through stages where we need the jaws of life to get him out of my arms in the morning but it’s all a big act. He’s a social butterfly and loves to tell me about his ‘fwends’ and his books and painting etc.
This morning he walked into the ‘big school’ by himself – took off his boots by himself – took off his coat and hat and put them in his cubby by himself. He walked over to his new class, said good morning to Alice and never looked back.
I went to his old classroom to return all the extra clothes we’d accumulated – including the pink socks he came home in on Friday. I saw his first teacher Flora. She just looked at me and said, ‘he’s so ready and he’s such a good boy and a big boy.’…and I started to well up. Then I saw his most recent teacher and she got misty and said that I had no idea how much she’d miss him. And then the tears came.
I think the issue is this. I feel like I haven’t aged in 20 years. I have a job, I pay my rent and bills and I see my friends. Sure I’ve added this 30 pound, two-year old barnacle to my side..but other than that, I don’t feel any different. To see the way that these little dudes change and grow every SINGLE day freaks me out. When he started daycare, it felt like it would be years before he would be moving on…and it feels like it was two weeks ago.
Soon…he’ll really fit into my shoes…and I want it to slow down. Please.
this is so touching Sara. i look at my 7-yr old with his beyblades, soccer ball, friends, and pokemon books – and wonder the same thing every day. where did my baby go? for a while, i could see a little baby in the roundness of his hands, the dimples in his elbow…now it’s all lean, shaggy haired boyness. so very fast it goes by.
Sara- If I was one of Will’s teachers I would be talking about you. I would say “Isn’t it amazing how much Will’s mom loves him? He’s such a lucky kid- no wonder he’s so awesome”.
Where does the time go? Sometimes it seems so slow, like during infancy and colic, and then, poof! it’s the first day of school.
It’s great that Will is so independent, my girls are fairly independent but I still get the “Don’t go to work Mommy, I want to you stay with me…” almost everyday and that is really hard (once I’m gone, they’re fine though).
Ohhh…so bittersweet huh?
SO awesome for Will that he’s such a smart independent guy. Isn’t that our goal for our kids? Just goes to show how well he is being raised!
This is just the beginning, my friend. Prepare for a few more tears.
Kindy registration starts next month for Eva. I just had her!!! How can she be going to kindergarten next year?? WaaaH!
i was the mom high five-ing everyone in the school yard on the first day of kindergarten. i was surprised when, the first day of grade one i was weepy. i guess that was my first transition for her in to “real life”
Uch. I know, sistah. I know.
I remember the first day I left Fraser at pre-school and came home to an
empty house. It is a tough day. Instead of having them at your side all the time,
you end up running after their lives and activities for the next twenty years…It’s
hard to give up that little person at your side. But he’s always there for you.
Wait until his first day of school – Nathan gave me a hug and walked right in, I held my tears in until the door closed behind him and burst out in uncontrollable crying “hyperventilating” Brad had to take Andrew from me….probably worse than the first day of daycare….now he comes home with all these acheivement certificates and awards and you just can’t believe how much they have grown and are growing….savour every moment…. I am scared thinking about the day I have to go back to work because they won’t need me as much and that day and days coming up to that will be really hard on me….
Every milestone will be bittersweet for you – and sooo exciting and important for him! Time marches on, and even with it’s ups and downs and all arounds, there’s always so much to celebrate! One day he’ll buy his first house, like my Erin did this past June, or take HIS son to daycare for the first time……Don’t wish for time to stop – cherish the memories and cheer him on! (and P.S. – no matter how old you get, you’ll still feel like you haven’t aged on the inside! and that’s a good thing…)
This makes me feel melancholy too – mine’s almost two already…not ready for her to grow up!