Thursday, August 18, 2011

all alone.

I just dropped all four of my girlies off for their first day of school.
Sorry. No cute photos documenting this momentous day.
Couldn't find the camera:(
They were excited.
And a little nervous.
Wanted to know everything that would happen.
I didn't have all the answers.
But I guess that's a part of growing up.
Leaving the predictable routine of life at home
and heading out into uncertainty of the real world.

I know I am probably making this a bigger deal than it needs to be.

On the long drive to town I gave them all a little pep talk.

Be awesome.
Let your light shine.
Don't be shy.....
because Mimi says that shy people are really just selfish......
only thinking about themselves.
Look for someone ELSE who is nervous
and do your best to make THEM comfortable.
Don't be afraid to ask questions.
Don't be afraid of the bathrooms and pee your pants
like I did when I changed schools in the middle of first grade.
(they got a kick out of that.)
Have no part of gossip.
And don't necessarily believe everything they tell you.
(We are not Catholic).
Addie wondered if it was wrong to do the sign of the cross.
I think that is what "the Father, Son and Holy Spirit" thing is called......

I think I covered all the important stuff.
But I am wishing I could be there to hold their hands.......
Keep Gwen company in a crowd of strangers
so she doesn't feel alone.
Like I feel now.

This will be a good change.
I hope it will.
I know it will.
But for now, I am sad.
Tears streaming down my face....
Like seeing my little Addie struggle up the steep steps
onto a school bus of big strangers for her first day of Kindergarden.
Times 4.
They are all growing up at once.

Give me this day to be emotional.
And then on my next day off
I will conquer the world.



5 comments:

Kate said...

Be as emotional as you want! I think I would bawl my eyes out in your position. And I don't even like to cry. :)

Betsy said...

What great advice you gave them! I'll have to remember those words of wisdom for Shep on his first day of school. And P.S. I peed my pants in school too because I was afraid to go to the bathroom--I think it was first grade!

The Mary Behind the Makings said...

Beautifully said.

Mandy said...

Oh my! I hope it all went well! Would love to hear all about it! I would be sad too!

Sabrina said...

I peed my pants too. Rite of passage for all kiddos. :)
I'm sure your girls will do just fine, if they are anything like their outgoing funny mom!