Each year, on the first day of school, I spring from my bed and cheerfully sing (at the top of my lungs) "It's the most Wonderful Time of the Year". Yesterday was a bit different for me. My baby girl, who just turned 4 on the 4th mind you, was starting preschool. In the past, with my other children, I had sent them to a half day preschool when they were 2 and 3 years old. But with Maeve, I have never put her anywhere. No mothers morning out, no day care, no half day thing at all. She has been with me. 24/7. And now she was leaving me. I know it's my job as their mom to make sure they are kind, caring and smart kids, and I think I've done a pretty good job at making sure they all are. I know that Maeve is ready for this. She was walking down the hall announcing to everyone that she was there to go to preschool and showing her new lunchbox to anyone who would give her the time of day. She walked into her new classroom without a care in the world, waved to the other kids, and claimed her place at the computer with the teacher. She didn't cling to my leg, cry or beg me not to leave her. Did I do a bad job in raising her this far so that she WANTS to leave me? Isn't she supposed to cry and ask to stay home for another year? Maeve is ready for this. I am not.
Maeve and her teacher.
Declan has been looking forward to going back to school. While he might not admit that out loud, I can tell. He wants to play with kids his own age. He likes learning new things. He certainly didn't want to be home with me any longer than he had to. Getting up early is another story. Here he is with his new teacher.
Aidan and Aislinn were looking forward to school, too. They started a brand new middle school this year! Aidan was excited because at least 7 kids from his class last year and in his class this year. Aislinn has no girls in her class from last year, so she was a little more nervous about the whole thing. There is a couple boys in her class that she knows, but they are boys and, to her, are a waste of time and air! Ha!! Anyhow, as I was pulling up to the school, she made a comment about not wanting to go. So I asked them if they wanted me to park and walk them in. Well, my goodness. Aidan screamed "NO!!" as if someone were trying to snatch him from the park! Humph. Anyhow, Aislinn just said no and got out of the car. Neither of them looked back. How did they get to be so big so fast?
