Her face is pressed against the window and tears are rolling down her face. “I want to go to school. Why can’t I go to school?” Gently I tell her, “Sweetie, you can go next year, I promise.” For one entire month, this was part of our morning routine, as her brother would ride away on his school bus.
We would talk about what her perfect first day of school would be like when that big day came. “I will have a flower dress. I will have flower shoes. I will ride a flower bus. I will have a purple backpack.” We would play pretend school and talk about what she would learn.
To Emily’s delight, her year is finally here. I drove all over town to find her flower dress, her flower shoes, and her purple backpack. I couldn’t find a flower bus to drive her in, but everything else was exactly as she envisioned it.
As we pulled up, my eyes filled with happy tears for her. This was her big day that she had waited for. As I opened her door and leaned in to grab her backpack, she put her two hands on my cheeks and said, “Mommy, I will be right back!” It was a voice I did not recognize. A voice of a little girl who has suddenly become independent. A girl who won’t always hold my hand, who has to get in her seat by herself, a girl that would rather wear her clothes backwards then let her mom assist her.
My big girl grew up and her big eyes were filled with delight when she arrived. There were no tears and barely a nod in my direction as I left.
Yes, this was her day and my day too. We worked hard for this day.
And then it was just me, in a house by myself. I have not been alone in my house like that for over three years. It felt strange and very quiet to be alone.
A new stage in my motherhood journey is here.
This is too sweet! Adorable… You are such an awesome mommy!!
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Sounds like you made her day very special! GOod luck with this new adjustment.
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okay so I was just bawling! What a wonderful day! Congrats on getting to that next stage of motherhood… I have another 4 years till I'm home ALONE!
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Lovely —- very nicely expressed. They do grow up so fast, don't they?
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Thank you guys so much! I am so proud of them both! Thank you for reading and allowing me to indulge in both their days
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Big hugs! So glad things went so smoothly, and that the morning went so well.
As I was reading this, I was thinking about how hard it was for her when you were working at the Y daycare – she has grown up so much since then!
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My youngest leaves this year for full-day kindergarten. She is so ready and so excited, but I am not. I worked full-time with my other two (ages 11 and 9). When my third was born, I decided to quit work and stay at home. I never dreamed how quickly these five years would pass. In five short days, she too will gone and I'll be left at home alone for the first time since she was born. I told her how much I was going to miss her and she said, "I'll give you one of those kissing hands." (referring to the book called "The Kissing Hand). I told her I'd give her one too, but she said, "I won't need one." I guess my little girl has truly become a big girl now.
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This brought tears to my eyes…
even though it has been many years since my daughters first day of school as a mom that picture is etched in my minds eye….these are precious days Amy…you are a great mom…a Godly women….putting your children first….it's ok now to take some time for yourself each day…
God Bless, Pam
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Isn't it funny how children are often the ones to comfort us at such times?
I remember when my youngest started school. I drove myself to the ice cream shop and had a good cry over a Blizzard.
This year, my oldest will be a senior. Soon, she'll be the one putting her hands on my face saying, "I'll be home for Christmas."
Wahhhhhh.
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You wrote that so beautifully. Congrats on your big day and great pics by the way
Becky
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I am NOT looking forward to my daughter going to school. There's something about my baby girl.
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I remember your post last year with your son heading off to school. So sweet! Can't believe another year has passed.
I also have vivid memories of my first day of kindergarten, down to what I wore.
You and your daughter will always remember this day!
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Great post. It's great how they love school so much at this age.
Congrats on entering this new phase!
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every stage is precious…thanks for sharing!
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She felt comfortable on her first day of school because it was just as the two of you talked about…flower dress, flower shoes, purple backpack. What more could a little girl want?
Enjoy these days as they fly by so very quickly. My 16 y.o. daughter came home at 9pm last night; first time I'd seen her all day since 7:30 a.m. That's what happens when they get older…they get so busy with school, activities and part-time jobs that their days become long. I did smile when she walked in though because the first thing she did was give me a hug and a kiss. Gotta love teenagers that still need lovin' from their mama!
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My oldest little girl starts pre-school in 3 weeks and this made me cry. I'm not ready, I'm not ready, I'm not ready. But she can't wait. Just as we begin to feel comfortable in our role as a mom things have to change. I welcome it but I'm not going to lie, my heart is breaking
. Thank you for this post. I couldn't have written it better.
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Beautiful pics and story!
Dian
http://www.GroceryShopForFREE.com
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Wonderful and gorgeous photos of your sweet baby girl. What a big day for both of you. I can't imagine what it will be like to be alone in my house again someday…… And where did you find those shoes? I love them!
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Congrats to Miss Emily on her big day! A bigger congrats to Mommy for making it through the day. Enjoy your time! It goes really, really fast, believe me.
~Liz
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Colleen- Those shoes are from Stride Rite. They had their buy one get one half off deal so each of the kids got one good pair of shoes for the school year. They are absolutely adorable
Thank you to everyone for your sweet words today. Thinking of all of you wonderful moms that are going through similar milestones and those of you that have me misty-eyed for the milestones that are before us. ((HUGS))
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This was a beautiful post and she is SO cute!
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Can't believe Miss Emily is in school now, too!
The very quiet house when my kids are in school sometimes bugs me, too. I put on Noggin for a little background sometimes…beth
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Oh, wow…you made me tear up again. How strange, how frightening, how new…to have to let go like that. I know my day will be here in the blink of an eye.
stephanie@metropolitanmama.net
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You're totally making me cry! What a bittersweet moment…time passes so quickly.
What a great mom you are though–making her day just like she pictured it!
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