Tomorrow is my only child’s first day of first grade.
I could laugh. I could cry. I could ponder his early childhood. The day he was born. How fast he’s grown.
How much fun the years have been. How we waited so long for him and how we can’t imagine life without him now.
Lots of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends are thinking such things about their kids this time of year.
So, since many of you are already doing that, let’s do something different.
Let’s think about puppies. Cute, but it’s not working.
How about ice cream. No.
Asparagus. No.
Chips and salsa.
Oreos.
Steak?
No, no, no. Exit the food section.
Republican hopefuls for 2012. Ugh.
The Cardinals.
The weather.
Shoe shopping.
Fall sweaters.
Soap.
Bubbles.
Tears. Tears. Tears.
My friend Jenn calls this the emotional roller coaster of raising children.
Another friend Kaisa once offered this sage advice: Children are like the ocean. Go with it or you’ll drown.
So here we go. Forward march in the constant exercise of trust. God, help us. Here we go.
You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. Isaiah 26:3 AMP
Put yourself in a time out to savor the perfect back to school song. I Can Tell That We Are Gonna Be Friends by The White Stripes.
I am looking forward to back to school this year but then mine will only be gone 2 1/2 hours a day…barely long enough for me to hit the gym and the grocery store! Next year, however I’m not sure how I will hold it together…haven’t had a whole lot of time to think about it over the last five years. Tough realizing we will never pass this way again : ( Guess we just have to try and keep up and enjoy the blessings that come along with each new stage.
I think you hit the nail on the head. I’m not sure there’s anything more we can do. It’s a bittersweet time. Happy he’s going, but sad he’ll be gone. Happy he’s growing up, but sad about it too. Happy I don’t have to feed him in the middle of the night, but missing those baby cuddles too… Carpe diem, Beck. Carpe diem!
My post for tomorrow has already been written regarding Jack Henry’s first day of preschool…which, really, shouldn’t be that big of deal, given that he’s the third, and it’s 5 hours a week, and, and, and… Except that it is. It’s the beginning of so many things.
But now I am hungry, so thanks for that. :)
Best wishes for you and Jeff and Theo as you embark on his first grade adventure!
Oh, no. Did I scoop your post, Nicole? Or did you scoop mine? Lol.
I figured a lot of bloggers would be writing about back to school. How could we not? It’s like Christmas. Such a common experience. So I don’t expect a link back. Unless you mention chips and salsa, Oreos, and steak in that order. Then I’m coming for you. :) (Just kidding.)
Best to you tomorrow for the baby’s first day in preschool. Hope you and Matt do as well as JH will!
Oh HA!! I didn’t mean it like that :) Just meant that in anticipation of the momentous day, I prepped well ahead of time!
Hope T had a great day!
Never can be too sure :)
Hey Aimee,
Gosh I do not remember it has been so many years ago. I last visited it when I was like 12 years old. I guess the last time was the summer before I moved to Allen Jay. I think it was a group “owned” hotel…Like a bunch of investors together or whatever. He sold it way back then so I have not been lucky enough to go back. Too expensive to do it without connections. I do remember it was on the North End though. I used to love to ride around on those little three wheeled bikes that were everywhere on the island at that time. As for the article, it is http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/416847/the_first_day_of_school_from_daddys.html?cat=25 Thanks for letting me share it!
That was a beautiful piece, Rodney! Thanks for sharing it!
Rodney! What a beautiful story! Where have you been hiding this? You have to repost it on your site if you’re not bound by some agreement with Associated Content not to. It’s absolutely timely and just as poignant as when you wrote it.
Would enjoy reading how it is to send the girls off to school now as opposed to then as well. As if you need something else to write…
Thanks for sharing!
Aimee,
Loved this post. I wrote a feature article several years ago about this very day. I feel your pain. That day still stands out to me as one of the best and worst days of my life.
You mentioned “Captiva” in your caption? Would you be referring to the beautiful Captiva Island in the Gulf of Mexico? If so, I never realized you went there. My uncle owns a hotel on that island and we used to go every summer. I still think it is perhaps the most beautiful locale on this side of Heaven. They are about to get hit with another horrible Hurricane I am afraid unless the news changed since last night.
Rodney, is there a link to your article? If so, please post it here so I can read it and others can too.
Yes, we’ve vacationed at Captiva Island twice. It’s so beautiful! Jeff’s boss has a condo there he graciously opened to us. Heaven. The wildlife and shells are amazing. What’s your Uncle’s hotel called?