A sad day for a mom

Today is the first day of school. I know, it’s ridiculous that it starts here so early. I always have considered August to be a summer month, but I guess the schools around here don’t think so.

We have been running around all week preparing for the big day. Indeed, it’s a bit more labor intensive when you have 4 kids to get ready!

I had done most of the ‘back to school’ shopping last week, but we had to pick up a few things last night at Target. Seems the rest of our town had to also. The place was packed. We got home just in time for a quick bath, some ice cream and off to bed at the crack of 10:00. Thankfully only Zach had to be up super early. Tori slept until 6:45 and I woke Dalton and Asher up at 7:10.

The morning went off without a hitch and we made it to the stop with plenty of time to spare and met a few other boys who will be riding the bus with our boys. The girls made the trip in their new double stroller … it was the maiden voyage. They didn’t seem too impressed with the importance of the day, they were more concerned with the fact that they were up a good bit earlier than usual 😉

My heart skipped when I saw the bus coming. The bus that would take my precious Dalton to school for the first time. I might be an old mother who has done this 3 other times before, but it still breaks my heart when my kids go to school. If I didn’t have to teach them myself, I’d keep them all home with me.

I never have been a big fan of preschool, nursery school, mother’s day out, whatever you want to call it. I enjoy having my kids at home. I enjoy being with them. They grow up too fast. And I am so grateful for the fact that Chris has a job that allows me to stay at home.

But Dalton loves other people, loves to learn and above all, loves to do the things his big brothers are doing. So when we found out the state of Georgia offers full day Pre K at Asher’s elementary school, Dalton was pumped. His day includes an hour naptime, snack and lunch, two trips to the playground, three storytimes and arts and crafts. Sounds a little more stimulating that a day here with me at home.

And so, a day full of excitement and butterflies in the tummy is a sad day for momma. Be sure to check out the last picture. It’s Dalton giving me the ‘I love you’ sign as he’s about to step up onto the bus, right into big-boy-dom. Enough to make a momma laugh and cry all at the same time.

But I won’t tell him that 😉