On Brooklyn Starting School

It’s almost here…Brooklyn goes to kindergarten a week from tomorrow. I’m not sure I’m ready for this.

I’m sure every mom of school-age kids has experienced these feelings, but whew. Over the last week or two, it has really hit me—and I don’t get emotional very often. I’m not much of a crier, but I may eat my words next week. This may not make any sense, but it almost feels like we are hurtling toward the end of the world. The end of our normal. Things will never be the same once next Tuesday gets here. And, as hard as I am willing time to slow down just a little bit, it’s not going to. Time marches on, and before I know it, another week will have flown by, and we’ll be dropping her off for her first day.

Please tell me it gets easier when your second and third kids go to school.

I have been so fortunate to spend my days at home with our kids while they are little. Even on the days when they are driving me crazy, I wouldn’t trade it. I wouldn’t choose to do anything else. It’s true what everyone says: You blink, and your kids are somehow all grown up. Or, in this case, going off to kindergarten. I wonder if I’ve really savored the last five and a half years like I should have. Maybe you always look back and wonder that no matter how hard you try to soak it all in.

I know she’s not leaving the house for good (I can’t even imagine sending her off to college at this point…kindergarten is bad enough!), but still, life as we know it will never be the same. We will have a few hours with her at the end of the school day, but it sure will be different.

In some ways it will be good—Savannah will get her chance to step up and be the big helper around the house. I’m sure she and Abigail will become close little friends and playmates over the next couple of years. And I’ll be able to give them both a little extra attention during the school day. As social as Brooklyn is, I’m sure she will make plenty of friends and have a blast at school. Most of the time, she’s excited about starting school, but sometimes she acts like she’s not quite ready to go. I feel ya, baby girl. I’m trying my best to act excited and talk it up so that she’ll be happy and excited on her first day. Hopefully I can save the tears for when I get back home after dropping her off ;)

It’s such a weird feeling to be torn between not wanting your kids to grow up and being excited for their future and all the things they’ll learn and accomplish. I really am excited for Brooklyn because I know she’ll love school, but I’m sad for me at the same time. I know we’ll find our “new normal” before long, but man…being a momma ain’t for the faint of heart. It’s hard to let go.