one week from tonight

One week from tonight will be the night before my little {p}'s first day of school. He is going to be in Kindergarten... the start of something big.
So many thoughts are going through my head and my heart right now. I have enough faith in him to know that he will be okay. He is unbelievably smart. He is curious. He loves to learn. He is polite and compassionate.
The hardest thing, I think, is that I know all of these things about him. I am sending him to a place where he is not known. He is going to be one of many on that very first day of school. But {p} is not one of many. He is mine. And he is special.

One week from tonight, I will
not be sleeping.
One week from tonight, I will
be making sure that his clothes are just right.
One week from tonight, I will
be checking that backpack to make sure everything is in there.
One week from tonight, I will
be making a special lunch.
One week from tonight, I will
check all of the clocks so that we won't be late on Monday.
One week from tonight, I will
probably think of a million reasons why I should homeschool.
One week from tonight,
I will be praying...

that {p} doesn't cry
that {p} doesn't see me cry
that {p} will actually want to go back on the second day
that the hours on Monday speed by
and that God shows me how to start letting go,
because this is only
the beginning.

7 comments:

Janet said...

How very true and touching! I almost cried when I read this!

Anonymous said...

And one week from tonight, his Mammy won't be getting his clothes ready,packing his lunch or checking the clocks.
But she will be praying....she already is.

E. Crain said...

((Hugs)) Don't think of it as letting go, think of it as giving him room to grow.

This is a beautiful post.

Anonymous said...

These words are oh so very true and so well written. Joy, it's been a long time since I sent my little one off to school on his first day and he's now 37! Seems like it was yesterday and yes I did cry. This is just the beginning of a lot of "letting go". You will be fine! He's very blessed to have such a sweet, caring mother.

I'll say a prayer for you too!

Someone who watched you grow up doing your homework "at work" with your mom!

Shirley

Anonymous said...

You have an amazing way with words cousin in law of mine. Also I saw your little slide show and immediately went to that site and figured out how to put a slide on my site. I noticed Mammy is praying and so is Bruce & Kathy. The little one will be fine... the mom is who we are praying for. Wonderful post.... Love you. - b

momto5minnies said...

IT will be a growing experience for both you and {p}. Letting go the first time is a huge leap of faith ... I know.

(((HUGS)))

DrW said...

Monday will be my thirty-second first day of school as a professional educator. I know many great teachers and many great schools.

I wish for you a wonderful day that day! And for your son - I expect him to find a place next Monday that is safe and happy; a place where he can wonder and question and stretch and grow and create and experiment and think and try and goof up and try again and discover what works and what doesn't and maybe even why- all under the loving watchful eye of a teacher who will grow to love him quickly and new friends who will be his buddies right after he walks through the door.

As for advice, he knows you trust the school or you wouldn't leave him there. Get in and get out. He'll be fine right after you leave - I promise!

Remember - we love your children and we'll do everything we can to see that they are safe, happy, and learning great stuff every day!

God bless you - take lots of pictures - I can't wait!