August 31st, 2009

Tales of Grade Two

It is the last day of August. August does NOT seem like the time for school to start, even if it is the very last day of said month. August is still summer, or always has been here in Alberta, to the best of my recollection. But this year, August 31 was in fact the first day of school for my Big Boy. Admire his latest big boy haircut if you please:

Can I say how old grade two sounds without seeming crazy? I mean it’s nothing compared to my nieces who are in their last year of high school, or even my lovely niece who is just starting high school. But for me, it feels old. He is starting to pull away from me. In kindergarten and grade one he still needed a kiss goodbye most days. He wasn’t embarrassed to hug me in front of his friends. Today, on the first day of school, I already felt him hesitating when I went to hug him goodbye. It made me so much sadder than I expected it to. I know he’s going to grow up on me. I know it will be fast. I though it wouldn’t be too hard until he graduated to middle school in a couple of years. I though elementary school would be a breeze, but it’s not.

He’s my very first baby – my beloved helper at home, my tall, sensitive and sweet boy. And now he is only partly mine I think. He belongs to his friends and his teachers and mostly, to himself. He is starting to feel his place in the world already – he knows he doesn’t always need me to take those steps in the world. I’m hesitant to even think about the end of this year – how much more mature and aware will he be? And how many pairs of shoes will he go through this year (had to lighten the mood a little, lol!)

It was a nice day though, and super-hot, so I feel like we started the school year right. And now I must prepare myself for tomorrow – another first. A BIG first. The very first day of school for my next baby. I won’t cry, will I?