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Letting Go on the First Day of School

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Last comment by screasy 3 months, 4 weeks ago.

Next Monday my four-year old daughter Rebecca starts kindergarten. It will be her first time going to school. It will be her first time being away from home all day. Kindergarten will be a big adjustment for Rebecca…and it will be a big adjustment for me as well.

I try to keep reminding myself that Rebecca is smart and outgoing; I really should not be so worried about her starting school. Still, I cannot help but worry. She is my little girl, and I have always been there for her. I have kissed every boo-boo and dried every tear. It is strange to think of Rebecca suddenly being out of my sight for big blocks of time each day. It is disturbing to think of her meeting up with cruel kids or confusing situations and me not being there to intervene.

Of course I know that every child has to grow up some time. It is just that when you are a parent, your children feel in many ways like extensions of your own being. You put so much time and energy into caring for them. You love them so much, even more than you love yourself. It can be really tough to acknowledge that your children are, in fact, separate from you. It can be really tough to let them go.

But eventually we must let our children go. After all, what is the alternative? Kids who grow up without life skills? Kids who remain forever dependent upon their parents? Of course none of us want that.

And so, next Monday, I will send Rebecca off to school with her little Hello Kitty backpack and her standard issue red and blue rest mat. I will tell her I love her and will leave her behind. And I will not cry…until I walk out of her classroom anyway!

Latest Activity: Jul 28, 2008 at 7:41 AM

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oldblush commented on Monday, Jul 28, 2008 at 09:04 AM

Honey, we have all been through this, and we all made the adjustment just fine. You will too.

aljamama commented on Monday, Jul 28, 2008 at 09:25 AM

You will be fine. We all go through this. I know it's hard. I cried all the way home both times I went through the Kindg thing. I will now be going through the Middle School thing for the second time. And thats really scary, sending my "baby" to the Middle School.

But all will be ok. You too with get through this ok.

BIG HUGS!!!!

CBWill commented on Monday, Jul 28, 2008 at 09:42 AM

My husband is a vietnam veteran that won three Bronze Stars with oak leaf cluster, plus various battle ribbons. H missed most of our sons school days. When our oldest grandson started 4 year kindergarten he went to school for weeks just to peek in the door at him. It's a part of life, just like death is. Good luck. She will do fine. tt

bullochguy commented on Monday, Jul 28, 2008 at 18:44 PM

I guess this is a mom thing. when my girls first started school there mom hated it, I just said there kids there supposed to go to school. I never have seen the big deal. It should be an exciting time. They learn new things, meet new people and start to develope the skills they will need in life.

Elizabeth_Nessmith commented on Tuesday, Jul 29, 2008 at 11:44 AM

Thanks for all the supportive comments! It is nice to hear from other moms who have "been there" when it comes to the whole first day of school thing. And Bullochguy, I think you are right about it often being harder for mothers to send their kids off to school than it is for fathers. My husband does not seem very worried about Rebecca starting kindergarten at all. He figures she will have a great time in school, and hopefully he is correct.

screasy commented on Wednesday, Aug 06, 2008 at 22:25 PM

I just read your article Letting Go on the First Day of School. I hope Rebecca is happy in kindergarten and learning and growing. She was scheduled to be in my son's class at Sallie Z- he has adjusted so nicely and is very happy. Even though he has been away from home in preschool before, I was still teary eyed Monday as "we" made this transition. It has calmed my nerves tremendously that he has adjusted and is happy and likes going to school. I want him to make friends and learn new things and be happy and like school. I was a little nervous because many of his friends were going elsewhere to school but he is making new friends and doing well.

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