Sweet days of youth, of carefree abandon
We are quite weepy from your departure
A vice-like grip is struggling to weaken
You are just so ... well, FUN
And smothered in love
We miss you, miss you, miss you
(tear, tear, tear)
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
This has been h.a.r.d! Many of you lovely mammas have been here, done it. Was it hard for you and yours too? We're on day 3 of P's first week in 1st grade. Day 1 was decent (how could it not be) but day 2 brought home tears .... lots of gut wrenching tears.
"It's so boring ... they always say "no" ... I can't play with any toys ... I wasn't allowed to draw a picture in my book ... I couldn't get my dessert ... they make me write for a long time ... I already know how to read and do math" (followed by an attempt to prove it with math and spelling games for the next 30 minutes)
And he was so stinking serious about it, trying really hard to convince me that he didn't actually need to go to school (and I understand how things can be exaggerated in the heat of a melt down). Funny thing is, it all started with that dessert. He eats slowly and for 2 days in a row, had missed his opportunity to get dessert before the bell rang, I suspect. We have a real good mix of smothered giggles and worried faces in response to his bellowing, but when you get right down to it, I can't stand seeing him so overwhelmed by it all.
He doesn't want to grow up anymore (no thank you); he wants things to stay as they were (and I don't blame him). What a difficult change this must be for our first graders, such a jump from child to big boy. And for the first time he has to really figure things out for himself, without any help from his mom. It's hard for me to let go of that, to send him off to that responsibility of figuring it out without my help. Independence and responsibility is hard earned (but eventually, well worth these growing pains).
I know it will get easier for him and that he'll become comfortable and confident with his schooling and education. But just don't tell him this is the first year of at least 12 more! Poor little man.
{Thank you to all who send me wonderful comments and emails after some of these more "distressed" posts. They are so appreciated :)}