Monday, August 4, 2008

The Party's Over

Today my kids start back to the child care center that we have used for three years. They are gracious enough to let teachers' kids take the summer off with no tuition and still have a spot after the break. It's housed at the church we go to and has been a wonderfully nurturing place for my kids to go during the day.

But still...I didn't know I'd feel this way today. The sun is just starting to come up, I'm sipping a cup of coffee, trying to find a little peace. It's coming, I think. I woke up feeling nervous, knowing that my kids would be upset in a couple of hours as we say good-bye.

They always end up having a great day. It's just that B is starting in a new program and some of her friends haven't made the move up yet (school-agers!) and she's going on field trips this week and I feel nervous for her. So many changes coming for my soon-to-be kindergartner. As of next week, I can't say soon-to-be.

My little man will go back to his same class, with the teachers and friends that he was sad to leave in May. This morning, he will be sad to stay. Hopefully that won't last long.

I wonder if I will feel this way every year. Even as my kids are older, more confident. This ebb and flow of emotions. The ending of one thing, the beginning of another. We do it every year, and with each change - a bit of trepidation.

We will face it, the way we do each year.
I hope it will be as positive as the previous experiences.

Tomorrow I want to wake up with no knots in my stomach.

Here we go!

5 comments:

Beck said...

I hope they have a really great day. It does feel SO early for summer to be ending!

Mimi in the Midwest said...

You are not alone- • "At work, you think of the children you have left at home. At home, you think of the work you've left unfinished. Such a struggle is unleashed within yourself. Your heart is rent." -- Golda Meir

MBG- I'm thinking of the person you told me about who didn't know a famous leader........Boutros Boutros-Ghali aka Boo,truss,boo,truss, golly!

Anonymous said...

I don't think the nervousness goes away, but the excitement for the upcoming school year will get greater and greater for your kids! I always loved going back to see all my friends!

nikkis30by30 said...

I am going from only having one in school to two in school and a preschooler. EVERY YEAR, I go through exactly what you just wrote. I don't know if it will ever change, for us as parents. I think the kids will all grow and look forward to these things. Maybe..... who knows!

Jen said...

First, I hope you and the kids had a great day. And I must confess that I still go through the same thing...change is hard - and not just for the three year olds!