First Grade, First Day, Finally Freedom!

Last week there was a day that will be forever etched into my memory. I have been raising children for 20 something years, (ok, so its almost 30 years) and have always been one of these mothers that look forward to when each child made it from toddler status to Kindergarten, and then to the glorious ALL DAY FIRST GRADE! I have been counting the days, weeks, months, and years until Aydan, my youngest, made it to this miraculous day and last week it finally arrived!

Mark it down everyone....August 30, 2006...it will now be a new holiday date for me, as I am once again FREE during the day! Aydan started his first day wonderfully, just a little nervous about going to a new school and riding the bus for over a half hour in the morning and the afternoon. We had gone around to see his school several days earlier and he was excited, especially to be able to get "hot lunch" everyday. (Although, he at first protested, saying "Mom, I can't eat lunch that is too hot! How come they have to make it hot?" Until I reassured him that it was just what they CALLED it and that it wouldn't be burning his tongue...)

So, after putting him on the bus at 8:00 in the morning the first day, I proceeded to get into the car and drive to the school to wait for him to arrive, so he would still get the bus experience, but have me there to greet him when he got off the bus. (This is what the school recommended, so that the kids would get used to riding the bus from the start...) I waited for a while, and when the bus pulled up, I dutifully took pictures of him getting off and going to stand in line with his new teacher, Mrs. Carr. (He was a little confused by the last name thing, as his last school was much more laid back and preferred the kids call the teachers by their first name....I agree!!)

He was a trooper and did such a great job! There was a boy next to him that was crying, but Aydan just stood and waited, patiently, to go in, as the teacher tried to calm the boy down. I waited until he gave me his final wave as he entered the building, and then proceeded to my car to drive home...

As I thought about the enormity of this day as I drove home, and tried to sort out what I would do this first day...should I take the day off? Or should I get everything done that need to do? Maybe I should take in a movie, or read! Shopping by myself sounded like a good idea...

Then it hit me...

I actually MISSED the little guy! I actually got a little teary eyed and sad that I had finally reached this moment in my life and would never have it again...
Here I had been wanting it so badly and once I had it, I felt a little bereft. I realized that I will never experience all that magic of raising a baby and toddler again, and that I will actually MISS some of the great times that I spend with Aydan during the day.

I ended up doing some things around the house, and giving the puppies some extra attention, and got a nap in that I haven't had in a while. But I didn't take the day off or go shopping by myself...I waited until Aydan came home and we went together.

Its something that we both enjoy doing, and I can't imagine doing it alone...