Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Summer vacation

Well, Roo is officially finished all kindergarten type things. He is now in elementary school. Grade one. So now Babs - is going to be starting Jr kindergarten. Two school aged kids... I feel the stirrings of the empty nest syndrome starting... well okay. Not really. I'm actually really excited. All those years of baby stuff; diapers, toilet training, spit up and on goes the list - almost done. In between babies (lots of work) and teenagers (shiver) comes this stage - they are more independent (for instance - they can wash themselves in the tub and clean their own rooms...sort of...) and actually quite a bit of fun. High five mommy. It's strange because so many of my friends are still in various stages of babydom - including just starting families, starting over again and so on. Makes me wonder what happened to all of those years. You hear it goes too fast - but when you are right in the middle of it, it seems to go on forever. Especially toilet training.

But when you are here... and you picture what your baby girl will look like in a few short months, in pigtails, turning around to blow kisses as she gets on the bus with her little dimples - and her little hands waving goodbye (that still look like baby hands with matching dimples on her knuckles...though not for much longer ), well when you are here... your heart does constrict slightly in your chest... and the suggestion of tears appears in your eyes... and it seems like tomorrow you will be sending them out into the world to see if they will make it better and be happy people... and not need too much therapy.

It's too early for all of this reflection... I think I am going to go sit in the middle of the strawberry patch and pig out. Then maybe I'll go buy some new shoes... new shoes make everything better, don't they?

9 comments:

Kat W said...

In September my baby starts full time school (reception year in the UK). He's been going part-time since January. When he started in his school uniform I was an emotional wreck. Now I've got used to it and am more or less ready for him to go full-time in September. He's more than ready.

In some ways it's exciting. A new stage in both our lives.

Kat

Kat W said...

Oh and my six year old is so used to school that she thinks she's ready to leave and start her own business!!! Oh how quickly they grow :-)
Kat

limpy99 said...

You know what else needs new shoes every five minutes? School-aged kids. Good luck with that.

Anonymous said...

This time last year, I was awash with tears when younger son went for his school trial morning. How times change.

And yes toilet training does go on forever and ever. I am still trying to persuade them to aim correctly at the toilet bowl.

Ookami Snow said...

Once babies can talk I think i can handle them, before that I can't do it.

sprinkle4 said...

Oh for crying out loud, did you have to remind me that BOTH of my babies are starting school this year?? Scoot over and pass the strawberries!:)

Tamara said...

Yes, new shoes give you blisers, so they do tend to help you forget about everything other than your aching feet.

Slyde said...

i didnt realize our kids were the same age.. my son ends kidnergarten tomorrow...

im gonna get all veklempt..

elizabeth said...

kat - they do grow quickly, don't they. It's hard to think that in 10 years we'll be getting them ready to drive. To drive!


limpy - I've been dealing with that one already. Kids grow to fast. They should only sell stretchy clothes for them...

hullaballoo - yes. The aiming business seems to be a bit of a tricky one...

ookami - I know a few men like that.

sprinkle - come on in. Bring some chocolate.

tamara - you are a genius.

slyde - awww. Let's set up a playdate. lol.