OK. I've finally been to Peabody Elementary and back home without shedding a tear. Kindergarten Orientation. Tonight. Done. No tears. What's that you ask? Me? Oh, yeah. This is Josh. The daddy. The one who spends the least amount of time with these two hoodlums, but has enough emotional clinginess for the entire family. I finally made the journey dry eyed. On the third try.
Walt corrected me earlier today when I asked how his second day was; today was his "third day" of kindergarten. One preview day last Wednesday. (Sobs in the car. Just ask Nana. She got a call.) Monday. A misty-eyed, head-down walk back down Tanglewood. And this morning. Ginger finally had enough and took him herself. No tears. But I'm not going to lie and say that I didn't sit on the front porch with Patrick in my lap the whole time Ginger was gone and not let him down or even consider that he would ever walk much less disappear around the corner, sprinting toward the schoolhouse.
If you're just catching up with the Boys in the 'Hood, Walt is going to the neighborhood school just down the street from us. Inspired by our amazing neighborhood, good friends and a dedicated group of educators, we decided to stay local. Two blocks away local. We're very excited. So is Walt (he actually did sprint to school on the first day), and so are many of his friends (Adam was sprinting, too) and their parents (no sprinting parents, but I think I heard Chris Lareau ask if he could get a meal pass). For more on the whole process that brought us to this point, read Ginger's recent article from our community newspaper, The Lamplighter.
Here are the three amigos on the front steps on the first real day:
I hope their geography teacher didn't draw that globe. Pangea is long gone, last I checked.
They have lockers! If you stand outside a classroom door and watch your five-year old open a locker for the first time, hang his brand-new, monogrammed backpack in it, and gently shut it and you don't tear up, you probably also enjoy the high comedy of Old Yeller. It's even worse when he's showing his best buddy how to open HIS locker because it got stuck. It's almost as if they are self-sufficient and must now depend on each other for things like this . . . . Oh my.
Ms. Malland seems particularly well-equipped to handle this: she had tissues for me AND Chris.
When I look at this last picture, I don't see myself in it. But I do see the other person; only I see him at about my height, walking around the corner . . . of that car (probably the same one. Ha!), getting in and driving off . . . to high school or college or some other place where they only allow parents to come and drop off money. And at the current pace, I see this happening tomorrow. And I'm so not ready.
In other, less sad news, I did manage to get some video of me putting on Patrick's diaper and pajamas tonight (that's me in the red):
awesome.
ReplyDeleteSo lovely. Having the rather unusual perspective of being the parent of a 21 year old college senior and a 5 year old kindergartener, I can tell you that the years spent raising our children really do fly by. The days are long and the years are short, as they say. Enjoy this time in your life, cherish each day with them. What an amazing gift our children are!
ReplyDelete"Sunrise. Sunset. Quickly go the days . . ." But, just like your mom, we can't admit we have these serious emotions without ending with a little humor. Keep your humorous side, too, Josh. It'll get you through more tough times to come. Oh, and by the way, as he approaches college age, be sure you purchase his shoes online and try to get some that nobody else would ever buy so that you don't cry while sitting in Subway one day and you see a pair identical to his shoes (like YOUR dad did). I love memories.
ReplyDeleteOh, I forgot. I also love daddies with tender hearts.
ReplyDeleteoh my heart!! I'm thinking homeschool!! not sure I can handle this! Also, in reference to the aforementioned tennis shoes and Subway, I was sitting in that Subway too and all I have to say is don't torture poor Patrick because Walt is moving on!! Oh the labor of being the second (& smarter no matter what MSNBC says!) child! When Walt goes to college please send Patrick to stay with Aunt Gigi!
ReplyDeleteLove the pictures.. and your honest humor:) I have actually been shocked by my lack of tears. Just one tear first day. I cry about everything!! I think I cried myself dry in the months and days preceding. Maddox's reaction was so much better than I could have imagined. He's loving it and that makes it so much easier:)
ReplyDeleteI do hope your blog becomes a movie someday. There would be something for everyone. Walt looks so grown up and yes, he's spreading his wings but he'll be returning to the nest every afternoon...for a while.
ReplyDeleteShould I start working out so I can change Patrick's diaper in a couple of weeks?