ROUGH DAY TODAY! (for moms)

[momshell7]

Well, today is the day I have been looking forward to for for years, and yet I am feeling incredibly sad and have been crying like a baby. Yes, today is the day my baby started kindergarten. I have needed this time without kids all summer. They have driven me completely crazy. I have been counting down the days since the last day of school in June and yet I cried my heart when I left the school. OH yes it's true, being a Mom is the hardest thing you can ever do. You want to strangle your kids one minute, but the next you just want to hold them and hug them and never let go. Now all I can think about is .. I wonder what he is doing now... I hope he is ok... I hope he isn't too scared... I hope he doesn't get too sad. I have looked at the clock probably fifty times in the last twenty minutes to see if it was time to pick him up yet. I did the same thing when my other son went to school. I cried as I pulled away from the school after dropping him off. I did this for a good portion of the year. OH it is so embarassing!! But I am sure other moms can understand. It is sometimes hard for dads and non parents to understand even if they try.

Sorry for rambling on about this. I just needed to get it out.

Thanks for reading

Michelle

 

[bvdr]

Michelle, I felt the same way when mine started school, when they graduated from H.S., college, married, became parents, and now, again as my little grandson started K last week. All these rites of passage we go through and yet each bring these bittersweet feelings and can resurrect tears even years later.

 

[Mary]

Michelle,
Five times I took a little one to kindergarten, and five times I cried as I drove away.
It is hard. Sometimes I think the weight of our love just needs to spill out, and it comes in the shedding of some tears.
It doesn't get easier; a mother's heart is always vulnerable.

My thoughts are with you.
Mary

 

[Yaps]

There in a high branch of a proud old tree,
Lay a nest of babies which no one could see.
Beside the nest, stood Mother, with loving heart,
And Father looking on, guarding as from the start.

The babies were young and filled with delight,
The ways of the world were beyond their sight.
They were wanting to try their wings of gold,
And enter the new world, ever so bold.

Their parents were hesitant, all so knowing,
Their babies had not finished growing.
But knowing they needed that freedom,
Were willing to let the babies leave them.

The first little bird, so eager his wings,
Thoughts of the new world, losing his strings,
He jumped on the side of the nest so fast,
And flew into the air, was free at last.

The next little bird, so timid, so shy,
He wanted to go but not a goodbye,
He timidly went to the side of the nest,
And flew to the next branch, then passed his test.

The last little bird, the last of the three,
Looked round at her parents, then forward to see,
The new world was opened for her to reach,
By trying her wings, trying what they did teach.

The wind got under the wings of the last,
And she flew through the air, into the world so vast,
Leaving the only home that she had known,
To go into world, the breaking of dawn.

The parents looked on as all of the three,
Found love and happiness and family.
They were proud of the choices that were made,
But their love for their babies never did fade.

The empty nest will always be there,
But visited with love and care,
The empty nest will be a guiding light,
A home for hope and stars so bright.

 

[Karlynn]

Now stand back and hold on to something as time blows by you. My baby is a junior in college and I can vividly remember her 1st day of kindergarten. The old cliche is so very true - they grow up so fast.

 

[momshell7]

Thanks everyone for the responses. Reading them made me cry AGAIN!!!

Yaps

Loved the poem. I printed it out and have it sitting beside my desk.

Well, it's time to go get my little one!! I survived the first day!!! But now they are off Monday so Tuesday will be like first day all over again!!

I know what everyone means when they say they grow up so fast. My older boy is only nine but it still amazes me that he is that old all ready! He is in fourth grade this year. Only a few more years and he will be in Junior High. I know that one will really blow my mind when it gets here!!

Jeff asked me today if I was sad that I didnt' have any more babies at home. IS HE NUTS!!!!!!! Don't want to start all over I am happy with two. I said this way I have a hand for each one so I can hold their hands when we are out. I have two arms so I can hug them both at the same time without being too crowded. I would need to grow more of each if I had more babies, although there are many times now I wish I could grow more arms.

Guess it's just a mom thing

Thanks for all the support today!! I guess this is a heart-related subject since my heart broke this morning as I left school, so do I need to move this thread to heart talk, LOL Sorry trying to keep my sense of humor.

 

[Granbonny]

I remember when my Granson was in the 4th grade..Still liked for me to come and have lunch with him..this year..he is in the 8th grade..where did the past 4 years go....Now, when I drop him off at school..he wants me to hurry and get out soon. ..And no kisses goodbye for several years..Yucky..as he would say.....so. let us know what your little one thought about being in school..Bet he loved it..My Russian Grandson wakes his mama at 6:15 a.m. saying..Up, mama..school.. He loves it...and so does my age 2 year old Granddaughter..They know that Mama and Daddy go to work but will ALWAYS be back soon to pick them up.....After all, you do want them to get out of the house and explore new things, kids their age, ect.. I think my 2 new ones get bored over the weekend..and are ready when Monday comes..they get bored with their rooms, toys, ect..and are ready to go back and play with the other kids.. Bonnie

 

[Marguerite53]

time marches on!

time marches on!

Now stand back and hold on to something as time blows by you. My baby is a junior in college and I can vividly remember her 1st day of kindergarten. The old cliche is so very true - they grow up so fast.

Karlynn, this is SO true.

I got back last sunday from taking our last of 3 off to college out of state. Today I was dusting. Their 3 senior portraits now sit atop our upright piano. I stopped and looked at them each. I had longed all my life to have these pictures there. Imagined them. It seemed so appropriate. Just those 3 wonderful smiles. My babies all grown up. They are so beautiful. But the longer I looked the harder it got. I burst into tears. At times the tears are unconsolable. But they are the most wonderful tears. I would not trade them for an instant. Motherhood is special. Thank you for sharing your feelings, Michelle.

Our first day of school would be next Tuesday. After 18 years of "the first day of school", it will suddenly be, just another day!

Marguerite

 

[momshell7]

Well, my little one liked school. He got to be the weather bee. He got to take the stuffed weather frog and go to the window to see what the weather was like. Then he picked out the appropriate picture and puts it on the calendar for today. He liked doing it. He also told me that they had to look for circles in the classroom, but one kid didn't get to because he had to sit on "the chair" because he wasn't being good. OH that poor teacher! If the kid is acting up on the first day of kindergarten what is the rest of the year going to be like!! She also said that she has more boys this year than girls. It is that way in both classes. hmmmmmm : Wonder why that is? Just glad I am not the teacher, two boys is enough!!

 

[geebee]

Well, I don't have my own children but I am a very proud aunt to 16 nieces & nephews. I agree with the time blowing factor. It seems so recent that I was a child at home with all the photos of First Communions, 8th grade graduation, high school graduation, etc. accumulating on my parent's walls. Now those walls are gone and I have new walls with those same photos and many, many new ones.

My oldest nephew just turned 18. My favorite niece just got her driving permit. So much is happening so fast my head is constantly spinning. I am torn between panicking that time is so fleeting and my admiration and pride that they are growing up so well.

Indeed, each step and stage they go through brings pleasure and pain at the same time. I hope this valve keeps me around for a long, long, time to see all those passages.

 

[Christina]

If I had known grandchildren were so much fun, I would have had them first.

If I had known grandchildren were so much fun, I would have had them first.

My grandkids Pieter & Anika just moved back to Tucson, AZ this summer and boy, have they grown up. Pieter is 13 now and is taller than I am (I am 5'4", Pieter is 5'7") and like Bonny's grandson is in the 8th grade. Is at the top of his class and doing wonderful. He's such a brain. Anika is 11, going on 20 and doesn't want me to come to school to have lunch with her. Too embarrassing to have her "Oma" come to school to have lunch with you!
Yes, snuggle time is over with these older kids but they have a little baby brother on the way in just about 6 weeks. His name will be Jared and we can't wait to see this little grandbaby.
Grandchildren are such a blessing.

 

[joy]

My oldest one is going to start 1st grade tomorrow, trust me, I cried when I dropped him off for his first day of kindergarten! I'm actually looking forward to him being in 1st grade though, he loves school and they are so nice to him. I'll cry again when Erik starts kindergarten next year as well. They do grow up SO fast, where does the time go????? He doesn't want to go to 1st grade because it means he has to get up in the morning. He told me this weekend that he wants to go back to kindergarten! It was cute!

 

[momshell7]

When my first son was three he swore he was NOT going to be four. He wanted to stay three forever. It was so cute. When it was time for his birthday he said he wanted a party and presents but he was still going to stay three. He is now nine and still stubborn

 

[mntbiker]

OK, now for a Dad. It's not only mom's who get emotional over the kids going to school, the Dad's just have to keep it to themselves. When my oldest son (now 6 and in first grade) went to kindergarten I had been working from home since he was born. We always went to the park together in the morning after he got up and we would go someplace special one day each week. When he started kindergarten it was like losing a playmate. We still do something special together one day each week, the younger one also, and I hope we can keep doing it even when they are older. My kids make up my top 10 list of most important things. I don't care who sees me cry when I say goodbye to my kids or who sees me hug them or kiss them. If you don't get it I feel sorry for you!

 

[joy]

Well, Ian is enjoying 1st grade, he STILL hates getting up in the morning. Sort of funny, when you tell him he has 12 more years of school left and then on to college and then work, he said, "why do I have to grow up?" Yea, I would keep him little if I could! It's ok, though, I enjoy the break each day. Everyone keeps commenting on how quiet my house is now that the two boys aren't fighting. My husband didn't get emotional when Ian went to school, he's more excited for Ian, because Ian has so much fun! At least he gets to sleep in saturdays and sundays. Speaking of which, I better get him ready to go to school now, Hope your baby is having fun in kindergarten!

 

[Marguerite53]

men are not exempt...

men are not exempt...

David. That was quite lovely. Thanks for chiming in. My husband has been somewhat weepy since we left our daughter (the baby, only girl, and his most special connection) at college. It is tough on all the grownups!!

Friends. Please. In reading all these darling accounts, may I remind you, as one who did not take the time often enough.........write these little anecdotes down. Just get a cheap spiral notebook, keep it in the kitchen with your cookbooks or somewhere easily reached. Slap a date on a line and who said it and write this stuff down. My project, now that the house is quiet, before my surgery (well, she said I could be waiting quite awhile) is to finish (actually I'm starting over) their 3 baby books!! They're in college!! I used to scribble stuff on a sheet of paper and throw it in a box in the closet. I have quite abit, but wish I had more. Hindsight being 20-20, I wish I'd just put it all in one place. Simplify.

Curious to know how people are recording these wonderful years. Anyone? I don't "scrapbook" as they say, but with all the new stuff out there it is tempting to get serious about the look of things. My husband's mother has the most lovely baby book. Her father was an architect/artist. Each page has very little on it, in contrast to the highly embellished pages touted today. But each page holds true meaning. I'm hoping to simplify as well.......to make it a synopsis of their lives growing up -- not an encyclopedia.

Still, would love others' ideas.

Well, I stayed home, all closed in, the first day of school. Then I ventured out only when there would be no kids around. Yesterday I passed a school bus full of happy kids and almost cried. It's gonna take awhile..........

Enjoying all your stories!!

Marguerite

 

[Peggy in Alaska]

Tears, here. too!

Tears, here. too!

My youngest, my baby, started middle school on Sept. 6th! WOW. Can't believe I am finally away from the neighborhood elementary school. Have had a kid there every single year since 1989!

They grow up so fast. My oldest will be starting his senior year on college in a couple of weeks.

I didn't dare ask her for a photo of her stepping into the middle school front door! But her grandma who picks her up and takes her home, tried to get a picture! Rachel just rolled her eyes and said, I'm too old for that!

Peggy in Alaska

 

[Lynlw]

Justin is a senior this year, I can't believe how fast time went it seems like he just was starting school.
Since he has been out of school since march 2nd w/ his heart, it really seems pretty quiet here, specially since he played his bass alot lol, Lyn

 

[momshell7]

Well my baby is enjoying kindergarten. He is still so shy when he is there! I guess that's better than talking all the time and getting into trouble It makes things easier for him knowing his brother is just down the hall. I also work at the school as a teacher assistant for fourth and second grades so I am there a lot, too. I am enjoying being at school while they are still young enough to not protest my being there with them

I have really enjoyed reading everyone's stories. I am hoping to see more Dad stories. Jeff has gotten emotional when taking them their first days but he tries to hide it He did insist on being their to drop our youngest off and pick him up on his first day, which I thought was great.

 

[bvdr]

Well my baby is enjoying kindergarten. He is still so shy when he is there! I guess that's better than talking all the time and getting into trouble It makes things easier for him knowing his brother is just down the hall. I also work at the school as a teacher assistant for fourth and second grades so I am there a lot, too. I am enjoying being at school while they are still young enough to not protest my being there with them

I have really enjoyed reading everyone's stories. I am hoping to see more Dad stories. Jeff has gotten emotional when taking them their first days but he tries to hide it He did insist on being their to drop our youngest off and pick him up on his first day, which I thought was great.

My little grandson has only been able to attend 4 days of his K class so far. He developed a respiratory problem with extreme coughing spells. He was diagnosed with asthma several weeks ago but this time they were ruling out whooping cough even though he has never missed a vaccination. It took days but tests are negative so back to school he goes. He really missed it already. How quickly they adapt!

I think it is wonderful that you get to assist at the same school. You get to stay in touch with all that is happening and get little glimpses of them....sort of like being that fly on the wall. Keep it up. You sound like a great mom.