We shopped for supplies, bought clothes and shoes for his ever-growing feet, and I read through and signed piles of registration papers. I was an anxious mess the last couple weeks anticipating beginning a new chapter of our lives, and I choked back tears through the entire elementary school open house. For a large portion of his day, someone else will be guiding him. This is the first of many occasions to come where I lose a little bit of my parental control. Where I let go a little and allow him to experience something new, make mistakes, make friends, and learning how to navigate through life. He is in extremely capable hands. Teachers have the most important job on earth as far as I’m concerned, and they pour their heart and souls into preparing our children for the world. I am forever grateful for our educators. While I commend those amazing moms and dads who take on homeschooling, I know for our family, it takes a village. He is off to learn things I cannot teach him by myself.
The morning finally came and I focused on fiddling with camera settings to hold back tears. He was so excited. I didn’t want to show him I was having trouble accepting that he is growing up. He packed his own lunch and we took the cliché first day of school picture for his scrapbook – yep, going to make him pose for that every year til he graduates. We drove to school and all walked him up to the door. Surprising, I didn’t cry. I felt a little numb, but mostly proud. And just like that, my baby is a kindergartner .
