Monday, August 26, 2013

When your littlest goes to kindergarten


when your littlest goes to kindergarten
you can't pretend
anymore
that you are the mother
of a baby
 
there are no more preschool shows
or napping blankets to pack on Monday mornings
 
the diapers and the bottles
you barely remember
 
pacifiers
used to be such a concern:
Will he ever outgrow it?
and now
you don't remember the color
his used to be
 
now it is real kid school
 
he has to go
 
it is no longer a choice
made by parents
who need to work
who want their baby
to socialize
learn
play
get ready
for kindergarten
 
now it is for real
 
the littlest one
wears a uniform
packs a backpack
needs folders
pencils
and has real homework
 
you drop him off
and he is expected
to walk into that big school
find his classroom
sit in his line
wait for his teacher
 
he comes back to you
in a little yellow bus
 
he loves the bus
 
you love that he loves it
but
you can't even entertain the fear
that little yellow bus
stirs
 
you drop him off
and you are expected
to go to work
go about your day
and know that he is all right
 
he is learning
in the most capable hands
he is playing
with new friends
he is growing
 
and you
can not believe
that his backpack
is
almost
bigger
than
he
 
when your littlest goes to kindergarten
you are no longer
the mother
of a baby


2 comments:

  1. I loved that! Yes, those littles with the giant backpacks tug at my heart every time. Hope he is enjoying kindergarten!

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  2. Touching. My babies are 23, 21 and 17. It goes quickly and there are many of those moments along the way. Missing those sweet times yet enjoying the people they have become.

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