Wednesday, September 3, 2008

School Days


Yesterday marked the Peanut's long anticipated First Day of School. You could feel the excitement in the air as the Peanut ate his blueberry pancakes for breakfast and didn't once ask to watch cartoons. Teeth were brushed, hair was combed and the backpack was on. He was ready for school.

When we arrived at the playground amid all the parent-papparazzi, the Peanut chose to stick close by instead of bolting for the slides as is the norm. He patiently waited for the signal to line up with his class and very sneakily skipped the smaller kid in front of him while she was preoccupied with balancing the huge backpack throwing off her center of gravity. With a quick wave goodbye and a frantic last "I love you! and Be a good listener! and Have fun! and I'll be right here when you're done!" (mostly said for my own benefit, not his) it was smiles, one last parent-papparazzi flash... and it was over.

My baby is officially in school. I quickly turn as soon as the Peanut's through the door and avoid lingering with the rest of the parents for fear my positive smiling exterior will fail me. I barely reach the Peanut's favorite 'loop-ty' slide when I feel the betrayal of my tightening throat and quivering chin. A perfectly timed text message of encouragement and support from the Peanut's daddy is all it takes for the tears to catch up to the lump in my throat.

After taking the long way home to collect myself, the 2 1/2 hours pass quicker than I anticipate and I walk faster than is necessary back to the school to wait for the Peanut to appear through the heavy school door to the playground where the parents anxiously await. Somehow even though I know he's just fine without me, I feel a huge sense that I've been holding my breath for the last couple of hours until I see his adorable little head bobbing up and down well above the rest and headed toward me.
He's fine.
He's had a great time.
He's excited to tell me about his day and all the fun he's had.
He can't wait to go back.
"Great! I'm so glad!" I tell him. He runs ahead of me eager to get home and show grandma what he's made in class today... With a sigh of relief and satisfaction I think, 'He made it.'
(And I made it too.)