Even though my grills are in middle school and my son is in second grade, my heart breaks on the first day of school.
Yesterday was the first time that my grills didn't want me to take them to school. It broke my heart, but I let them ride the bus, because I remember being that age. I remember wanting independence, but still it broke my heart.
Ricky wasn't so sure about starting a new school and he made it clear that not only were we going to take him to school, we would stay there until he said we could leave.
The first day of school always sucks for all of us. The kids are tired from lack of sleep because they are too excited to sleep the night before. I am just a cry baby when it comes to my kids, I realize that every year is one year closer to them graduating and leaving home, and that thought kills me.
Here is a letter I found on the internet, I am not sure who wrote it, but I had to share it. It describes my feelings perfectly....
Dear World:
I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two brown eyes...and a happy laugh that ripples all day long.. and a flash of light brown hair that bounces in the sun when she runs.I trust you'll treat her well.
She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning...and skipping off down the street to her first day of school. And never again will she be completely mine.Prim and proud she'll wave her young and independent hand this morning and say "Goodbye" and walk with little lady steps to the schoolhouse.
Now she'll learn to stand in lines...and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called. She'll learn to tune her ears for the sounds of school-bells...and deadlines...and she'll learn to giggle...and gossip...and look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy 'cross the aisle sticks out his tongue at her. And now she'll learn to be jealous. And now she'll learn how it is to feel hurt inside. And now she'll learn how not to cry.
No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch on a summer day and watch an ant scurry across the crack in the sidewalk. Nor will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn and kiss lilac blooms in the morning dew. No, now she'll worry about those important things...like grades and which dress to wear and whose best friends is whose. And the magic of books and learning will replace the magic of her blocks and dolls. And now she'll find new heroes.
For five full years now I've been her sage and Santa Claus and pal and playmate and mother and friend. Now she'll learn to share her worship with her teachers ...which is only right. But no longer will I be the smartest woman in the whole world. Today when that school bell rings for the first time...she'll learn what it means to be a member of the group...with all its privileges and its disadvantages too.
She'll learn in time that proper young ladies do not laugh out loud...or kiss dogs...or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms...or even watch ants scurry across cracks in sidewalks in the summer.Today she'll learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. And I'll stand on the front porch and watch her start out on the long, lonely journey to becoming a woman.So, world, I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two brown eyes...and a flash of light brown hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs.
I trust you'll treat her well.
She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning...and skipping off down the street to her first day of school. And never again will she be completely mine.Prim and proud she'll wave her young and independent hand this morning and say "Goodbye" and walk with little lady steps to the schoolhouse.
Now she'll learn to stand in lines...and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called. She'll learn to tune her ears for the sounds of school-bells...and deadlines...and she'll learn to giggle...and gossip...and look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy 'cross the aisle sticks out his tongue at her. And now she'll learn to be jealous. And now she'll learn how it is to feel hurt inside. And now she'll learn how not to cry.
No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch on a summer day and watch an ant scurry across the crack in the sidewalk. Nor will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn and kiss lilac blooms in the morning dew. No, now she'll worry about those important things...like grades and which dress to wear and whose best friends is whose. And the magic of books and learning will replace the magic of her blocks and dolls. And now she'll find new heroes.
For five full years now I've been her sage and Santa Claus and pal and playmate and mother and friend. Now she'll learn to share her worship with her teachers ...which is only right. But no longer will I be the smartest woman in the whole world. Today when that school bell rings for the first time...she'll learn what it means to be a member of the group...with all its privileges and its disadvantages too.
She'll learn in time that proper young ladies do not laugh out loud...or kiss dogs...or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms...or even watch ants scurry across cracks in sidewalks in the summer.Today she'll learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. And I'll stand on the front porch and watch her start out on the long, lonely journey to becoming a woman.So, world, I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two brown eyes...and a flash of light brown hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs.
I trust you'll treat her well.
4 comments:
Are your kids going to the base school? I remember those days. Tyler is home so I don't have to send him off but there are other milestones. Moving away being a biggie.
I know what you mean. I remember helping them to their classrooms with their bags of supplies. Now they go pick up their schedules on their own.
Meaghan always wanted or needed help with her hair now she doesn't even want me to smooth out her makeup line when I notice it and she's not near the mirror. Ryan got a different hairstyle this year and needed help on how to spike it up and how much product to use in it for about 2 days.Now I'm just back to telling them to hurry. I paid senior fees today for Ryan.*sigh* Only 35 weeks until he graduates.
I know exactly how you feel.
Yes the kids are going to school on base. I had considered putting them in private school, but the british don't really like Americans, and i didn't want to put them in that situation. I wish I could home school. I have ADD and organization is not my strong point. I can't imagine what a mess I will be when Martina is a Senior. Ugh just the thought of it makes my heart hurt....
It does hurt to know that he'll be graduating and going into the big vicious world. I had hoped he would be going to college but he says that he doesn't want to. His daddy is going to "pull some strings" and get him hired offshore on a rig where his friends work so they can keep an eye on him to make sure he stays safe. That makes me really sad.
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