Meltdown City, USA

I know what I am about to write about is something that every parent has to deal with in their life.   I know that I am not the only one to have to go through it.  And yet, just the thought of it makes me want to take a trip to Meltdown City.  Why, you ask?  Because in exactly a week from today, Brian starts kindergarten.

Is this his first time to be away from me and go to school? Nope.  So why I am so berserk? Because he will be gone all.day.long.  Brian has a very late summer birthday, so because of his young age, I wanted him to do pre-k twice.  Now, he is closer to the same age as the other kiddos and this will put him at graduating when he is 18, not 17.  I didn't want him to struggle in school because he was so young and I didn't want him to end up being the last one of his friends to be able to do things like drive a car and date.  Wait, yes I do want him to be the last one of his friends to date.  Which should be no problem since he will be 30 when I allow that to happen.  Anyway, making that decision was great for him.  He is excelling at school, is already reading quite a bit, and had an extra year to get a little more mature.  But it kinda spoiled me to the whole two-hours-at-school thing.  He got to go to school and then be with me for the rest of the day.  For TWO years.  And now, come Monday, he will be gone all day.  I think it is going to be wonderful for him.  He is Mr. Social Butterfly and is going to love being around kids his age all day. He is going to finally get to eat in the cafeteria and go to gym and music. But what am I going to do with myself while he's doing all this?

Hudson and I are going to have a lot of time together, just the two of us.  But, boy, are we going to miss our bubba.  It is going to take some major adjusting for the both of us.  There are times during the day now when both kids are being as loud and ornery as they can possibly be and I will think, "Man, a little peace and quiet sure would be nice."  But then in that rare moment when they are both gone and I am alone, all I do is wish they were back making noise.  I miss them so bad. 

I'm pretty sure that I will be a basket case on Monday morning.  Wes has a dentist appointment and is taking a half day so he will get to go with me to drop Brian off on his first day.  I am sure that will be the only thing keeping me in line because I know that if I bawl and cause too big of a scene that Wes will make fun of me for the rest of our lives.  But you can bet I will have my camera in tow and some Kleenex stuffed in my purse.  It's moments like these that are so, so precious but make the reality that Brian is growing up even more obvious.  I am so proud of him and the young man he is becoming but I just want to treasure every single moment and milestone he has while he is still little and actually doesn't get embarrassed by his mom :)  And then I'm going to have to do it all over again with Hudson.  Waaaaaaaaahhhh!!!!! :(

First First Day of Pre-K - 2011

He had only been 4 for 2 weeks.  Look at those cute little baby fat cheeks...

 

 

 

Second First Day of Pre-K - 2012

He gained a baby brother that year and lost some of that baby fat...