It's that time of year where everyone is posting their "back to school" pictures on social media. I always rolled my eyes and scrolled past these photos, thinking that it was a waste of a post. In fact, I avoid social media for a couple of weeks during August. I want to wait until people post "real life" things again, not just the obligatory "here's my kid standing on our porch or in front of the garage door holding a piece of paper with their grade printed on it". I have felt this way for years and have continued to feel this way. Until this morning.
What changed? This morning I took my firstborn to her first day of Kindergarten. And do you know who was late to school because her mom was busy taking all of those "stupid" first day of school pictures? That's right, my kid. And do you know who is planning on taking pictures every day for the rest of the school year? That's right, this mom right here. I now understand why it means so much to document this occasion. I also have a newfound understanding for why people post every grade that their child moves up to.
It. is. a. big. deal.
I remember going to kindergarten. I remember the men's dress shirts that the teacher would button up backward on us to keep our clothes clean while we fingerpainted. I remember my cubby where I kept my backpack. I have a distinct memory of my teacher correcting my pronunciation of "crowns" to "crayons". I can't wrap my head around the thought that Ali is making those memories right now.
I was doing fine; no tears, no overwhelming emotions. Probably in part because we were late, so I hardly had a chance to kiss Ali goodbye before sending her running into her class. Probably in part because she goes to daycare while I work, and it felt a little like dropping her off for a normal day of that. Let me just tell you how picking her up went though. I was pushing Morgan in the stroller, just getting close enough to see the teacher standing next to Ali's class. All of the little 5-year-olds standing in a line behind their cone. As I walked closer I spotted Ali in the middle of the line. She saw me across the parking lot at the same time I saw her. Her arm flew up in the air, (the kids can't leave the line until they raise their hand and the teacher dismisses them to make it safely to their parent), and she started pointing at me with the other hand.
For some reason, this brought tears to my eyes. I tried to blink them back while walking closer to the group, but when her teacher spotted me she told Ali she could leave and Ali took off like a shot from a gun straight for me. As she was running towards me she shouted, "MOM. I had such a fun day!". Then she leapt into my arms and wrapped her little arms and legs around me. I lost it. I had to hold on to her for a few extra seconds to get my emotions under control before I could put her back down. And that was that.
I can't explain the feeling. I didn't even know I could have this feeling until today. Is this normal? Do mom's go through this every year? I've heard quite a few ladies in my neighborhood talking about how excited they were for school to start because they can't wait for their kids to be out of the house. I've also heard some moms say they can't handle when their kids go back to school because they miss them so much during the day. So I wanted to open this topic, which emotion does "back to school" bring up for you? Are you the mom that drops your kids off and then basks in the silence for the next few hours? Are you the mom that cries a little every morning when your kids get on that school bus? Or maybe you are the mom that is working and you find school to be a pleasant change from daycare or a nanny?
I'm really interested to hear your thoughts and would love to hear your own "back to school" stories. Maybe we can celebrate this time of year, or cry about it, together. I feel like I have a new stamp in my "mom passport" now that I have had this experience. Aaaand now I'll also be joining the ranks of the people that post first day of school pictures to their social media. I apologize for all of the judging that I have done to the rest of you up to this point.
What changed? This morning I took my firstborn to her first day of Kindergarten. And do you know who was late to school because her mom was busy taking all of those "stupid" first day of school pictures? That's right, my kid. And do you know who is planning on taking pictures every day for the rest of the school year? That's right, this mom right here. I now understand why it means so much to document this occasion. I also have a newfound understanding for why people post every grade that their child moves up to.
It. is. a. big. deal.
I remember going to kindergarten. I remember the men's dress shirts that the teacher would button up backward on us to keep our clothes clean while we fingerpainted. I remember my cubby where I kept my backpack. I have a distinct memory of my teacher correcting my pronunciation of "crowns" to "crayons". I can't wrap my head around the thought that Ali is making those memories right now.
I was doing fine; no tears, no overwhelming emotions. Probably in part because we were late, so I hardly had a chance to kiss Ali goodbye before sending her running into her class. Probably in part because she goes to daycare while I work, and it felt a little like dropping her off for a normal day of that. Let me just tell you how picking her up went though. I was pushing Morgan in the stroller, just getting close enough to see the teacher standing next to Ali's class. All of the little 5-year-olds standing in a line behind their cone. As I walked closer I spotted Ali in the middle of the line. She saw me across the parking lot at the same time I saw her. Her arm flew up in the air, (the kids can't leave the line until they raise their hand and the teacher dismisses them to make it safely to their parent), and she started pointing at me with the other hand.
For some reason, this brought tears to my eyes. I tried to blink them back while walking closer to the group, but when her teacher spotted me she told Ali she could leave and Ali took off like a shot from a gun straight for me. As she was running towards me she shouted, "MOM. I had such a fun day!". Then she leapt into my arms and wrapped her little arms and legs around me. I lost it. I had to hold on to her for a few extra seconds to get my emotions under control before I could put her back down. And that was that.
I can't explain the feeling. I didn't even know I could have this feeling until today. Is this normal? Do mom's go through this every year? I've heard quite a few ladies in my neighborhood talking about how excited they were for school to start because they can't wait for their kids to be out of the house. I've also heard some moms say they can't handle when their kids go back to school because they miss them so much during the day. So I wanted to open this topic, which emotion does "back to school" bring up for you? Are you the mom that drops your kids off and then basks in the silence for the next few hours? Are you the mom that cries a little every morning when your kids get on that school bus? Or maybe you are the mom that is working and you find school to be a pleasant change from daycare or a nanny?
I'm really interested to hear your thoughts and would love to hear your own "back to school" stories. Maybe we can celebrate this time of year, or cry about it, together. I feel like I have a new stamp in my "mom passport" now that I have had this experience. Aaaand now I'll also be joining the ranks of the people that post first day of school pictures to their social media. I apologize for all of the judging that I have done to the rest of you up to this point.
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