My baby is all growed up
Aug 18th, 2008 by Accidental Thinker
I think I have the most disobedient kids in the world, because never once have they heeded my admonishments to stay little forever and stop growing up. The latest act of blatant rebellion? Noah stepping onto the school bus for his first day of kindergarten.
A mother can surely be forgiven for tearing up at such a sight, right?
And this same mother should likewise be forgiven for letting her overprotective instincts rule by racing ahead to meet the bus at school, making sure that her baby knew where to go. And of course she must also be forgiven for getting choked up as she waved goodbye to him in the classroom, having already chosen a seat among the other kids.
So began my day, with the stark realization that my baby is a baby no more. He is growing up far faster than I have given him permission for, and I don’t like it one bit.
I worried about the little guy all day long. Was he overwhelmed by the strange classroom and new faces? Did he like his teacher? Would he participate in class? Did he eat his lunch? Was he making friends? And just how many seconds left until I could leave work to go home and hear all about his first day?
Apparently I had nothing to worry about. He had friends to play with, and he ate pizza for lunch, and he offered “alligator” when asked for words that start with the letter A. And the very best part of kindergarten, I learned, is the amazing revelation that you can have chocolate milk at lunch EVERY DAY.
I’d say the first day of kindergarten was a success. But I’m still not happy that it came long before I was ready to see my baby step onto that school bus like a big boy, his face beaming from the window, all growed up.
Isn’t it interesting that Moms get that way on their first child’s first bus ride to school while Dads don’t? But dads get that way when their kids take bus trips to join the military, but Moms don’t.
That’s how I saw it when I was growing up and when our first-born son grew up. We’re so prouda that boy. You’re gonna be prouda your boy, too.
I feel your pain, sister!! My children have taken even more acts of rebellion and gone on to 2nd and 4th….how dare they?! Well, I try everyday to stick my hand on my sons head and tell him to stop growing but he just says, “Quit, I’m gonna grow, you can’t stop me!” But until I can, I’ll continue to stick my hand on my son and daughters heads and tell them to “always be my babies!”