Tomorrow is the First Day of the Rest of our Life

Well, until she graduates from high school...

Tomorrow, Tuesday, September 5th...Padyn starts preschool. I haven't written about it yet because I don't know exactly how I feel about it. On one hand I'm thrilled. Six hours a week when I only have one child? How great will that be! I can do things again that used to be easier...go to Trader Joes, get my hair cut, visit the dentist. Ok, they aren't super fun things, but they are errands that need attending to. And with two children in tow, it is more complicated. I'm excited about life being a bit easier with only one kid to haul around. Sure, it's only a few hours a week, but it will make a difference.

On the other hand I'm a bit sad. This is my baby. She's old enough to go to school. And this is just the beginning. Soon she'll be in kindergarten, then elementary where she's gone all day, then junior high. Before we know it we'll be packing up her things to ship her off to college. I don't ever get this time back. My baby is becoming a little girl. Sometimes I miss that baby.

On the third hand (you didn't know I had three hands?) I'm nervous for her. She's a bit of an introvert and an observer. I don't think I can stand the thought of her hanging out on the edge of the playground just watching the other kids play. What if someone is mean to her? What if the other kids don't let her play with them? What if she never makes any friends? But then, those are my anxieties, aren't they? I have to be careful not to press them onto her.

Tomorrow is a short day. We only go for an hour and the parents stay with the kids. When I told Padyn this, do you know what her response was?

"No, you go home and leave me there."

Well, she's certainly ready, even if I'm not.