As we set out on the walk to school, it was a beautiful fall day outside, perfect for the first day of school. For once in his life, he didn't dawdle. As he walked ahead of Len and I, he looked back and said, "Mom, you and Dad are slowpokes and I am a fast poke." We got the message and hurried up a little.
We rounded the corner and walked the few feet up Lincoln Avenue, he reached out for our hands, slowing down just a bit. He looked up and said, "I like you Mom. I like you Dad." We stopped at the front of the school for a few obligatory pictures of our big boy.
No longer a pre-schooler.
Next stop Kindergarten class. His excitement was mounting, as we set off to the back of the school, to the specially fenced in area for the JK and SK kids. Again, as we rounded the corner, he slowed, this time dropping right back. We could sense his hesitation. I grabbed his hand and reminded him that he was going to have so much fun, and we would be back in a few hours.
The three of us quietly waited with a few other parents and their kids, all us exchanging shy quiet smiles. I think we all felt nervous and excited, hoping for the best for our children but a little afraid, as well. Would our kid be the one to cry and want to go home? Or would they even notice we weren't there?
The bell rang, a few minutes of chaos. Caleb's teacher dismissed her morning class to their parents. We both wished Caleb the best, big hugs, and sent him over. His teacher turns, big smile, welcomes Caleb and puts him at the front of the line.
A few more minutes rounding up the last of the kids. Len and I stood there and soaked in the moment, studying his face. He's got his serious face on, but we can see he was nervous.
He stood so still, even when some of his older friends from Parks N' Rec walked past and gave him big waves. They didn't even get a smile.
Everyone is finally organized and together, his teacher leads the line into school. Len and I leave. As we walked away, we both choked up.
Someone asked me if he looked back as he went into school? I don't know, I don't think so. I couldn't look. We sniffled part way home. The house was strangely quiet for the remainder of the afternoon. Its not as if he's never gone away before, but this was different. This was putting him into the hands of strangers, introducing him to other kids and their influences. The good and the bad that comes with that. This was the beginning of packing him up everyday and sending him off to school until he's 17 or 18.
When we picked him up, the first thing he told us about school was that some girl knocked him down at recess. His teacher said, "Welcome to Kindergarten." He had storytime, snack time and he got to wear his new running shoes. He made some friends, but he can't remember their names. He had fun. Nobody cried.
And he missed us.
