But after leaving my little girl in a big classroom for the day, I was mostly just sad. Strains of "Slipping through my fingers" and "Turn around" were floating through my mind. Do you know those old songs?
"School bag in hand she leaves home in the early morning
waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile.
I watch her go with a surge of that well-known sadness
And I have to sit down for a while.
The feeling that I'm losing her forever.
And without really entering her world.
I'm proud whenever I could share her laughter
That funny little girl..."
"Where are you going, my little one, little one?
Where are you going, my baby, my own?
Turn around and you're two
Turn around and you're four
Turn around and you're a young girl going out of the door..."
Am I dramatic, or what? How do parents do it?!
Samuel didn't let me cry for too long. We passed a fire truck on the way home and he was all chatter and bright eyes. And I had a whole new surge of gratitude for my sunshine boy.
So far school is a success for both girls. They have young, pretty, fun teachers who they already love, and new friendships forming.
Samuel and I are getting used to our new normal. We feel a new sense of freedom that is fun and exciting. At least until 2:30 when we anxiously race to the school to hug and kiss our girls and remember how much we miss them.
Parenting can rip your heart out sometimes. But then it gets put back together in the most beautiful ways.
Happy back to school.
