I think that one of the hardest things about parenting has got to be watching your children grow up. Granted, with my limited experience since my kids range between 2 and 9 years old, I know little of what is to come, but I can speculate a bit.
Take Katie, my fierce daughter who, at 2, knows exactly what she wants and how to get it. Now these traits are challenging, to say the least, right now; but I hope that they serve her well as a young woman. Just uttering those words "young woman" gives me the chills. No way. No way will she, my baby, be a young woman. But folks, denying that would be like saying the sky is really purple (maybe it is) or that the grass is fushia. She will grow up, it is inevitable. All I can do is try to make it as painless as possible.
That's why, when she tossed her head of curls over her shoulder and glanced at me the other day while wearing her pink Barbie backpack, and said "I'm going to school now, have a nice day", I had to hold back the nagging urge to gather her in my arms and say "no, no you're too little to go to school, be momma's baby for now". Instead out came "okay, have fun".
I fast forwarded to the day when she really will go to school for the first time (god help the bus driver, wait I am sure I will chauffeur her myself and walk her directly to her desk, then hang out in the corner while the kindergarten teacher gives me dirty looks...) she will be confident, ready and excited to begin her academic career at age 5. I will be sobbing, mourning the last of my "babies" to leave the nest, wondering what I'll do with myself while she is away at kindergarten for half of the day...did you say half the day? Wait, half of the whole school day, like 3.5 hours, every day, for free, all to myself? I feel a latte coming on.
14 comments:
Oh, baby. That first day of school will be here before you know it. I still remember yours. Both of them. Remember, the bus didn't come because the school renovations were a day late? So we had a dress rehearsal. You, in your red/green plaid dress with those puffy white sleeves. Me in my jeans? Robe? I don't know. But it does seem like yesterday.
How sweet and adoreable is SHE!!!!! Ahhhh. I would love to have a little girl and call her Katie.
She is so cute. Sounds like you are raising a really secure, independent little girl.
Lisa
Ohmygoodness what a cutie! I am struggling with this right now as my oldest is getting ready to start kindy next month! And yes- no way will he be taking a bus- I will be chauffering him and hopefully my other two children will help keep me from going into class with him.
There's an easy solution to feeling too sentimental, its the thought of having more kids! LOL.
She is adorable and her independance and confidence will serve her well.
I have the same feeling about time speeding too fast and wanting to feed my son buckets of coffee so he'll stop growing. But I know I can't so I just try and savour every moment.
i always cry when i think about hannah starting school!
It's hard, but it's bittersweet, too. Because you want your babies to stay babies, but you look forward to all that glorious "me time" that comes with each new stage of their lives...
Just coming off a three-day hitch where the girls stayed over with grandma, and let me tell you what, man, I loved every minute of it, and missed them like hell, all at the same time.
Great post.
I am torn on this because there are days when I feel like I am hurrying J to grow up so that we can get past this "I'm not going to do anything you tell me to," stage. The other part of me wants to keep her little forver because I know things will only get worse. If she's anything like me as a teenager I might have to bolt her bedroom door.
I know that feeling and my son is only ONE! I can't imagine having to send him off to school. Just keep focusing on that latte and all will be OK!
I was a wreck on my kids' respective first days of schools... however, by the time #3 starts, I think I might just be ready!
Great photo, btw!
Oh, if only the sky was purple and the grass was fushia. It might make the first day of school easier.
Katie looks so full of charm and character! What a beauty.
a latte with Bailey's and Kaluha and Jameson's Whiskey.
UGH...I can't imagine. I want to eat dirt when I see all of my nephews and nieces all growing so quickly, I bet I'll be the same way.
and that pic! THAT PIC! so so cute!
oh my god, i just had to go back and look at that photo again...what a heart breaker.
i'm coming over and we're locking her up until she's at least 30. get the whiskey...i'll bring the rest.
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