Free At Last

First of all, I apologize to my non-existent readers :) that I have been so absent the last few weeks. I have been putting a lot of time into another blog I have started with a fellow mom in the 'hood. You can check it out at: www.GermantownAvenueParents.com I've also just been busy with Jude starting school, me being VP of the local chapter of the Moms Club and just doing way too much all around.

So, Jude is officially in school! He has had a couple of short-lived experiences in school settings (like the month that I decided to go back to work at a day care with both kids and then realized I was having a mid-mothering crisis), but has never really gone to school regularly. Back in Florida, he went to a Mother's Morning Out program at a church, but that was only one morning a week. He goes to Sunday school at our church, but obviously that is only one morning as well.



He also attended summer camp this year for a month and that was the closest he has gotten to school. It was actually every morning and was at the school he is going to now with many of the same adults and children. It was a genius move on my part to put him in that summer camp (patting self on back). Since he is so familiar with the school, the grounds, and many of the people, there has literally been no adjustment time. He never hesitates to go to school. He is excited to go. I have to pry him out of a swing and drag him through the gravel or bribe him with some extravagant outing to get him to get in the car at the end of the day.

And, me, you ask? How am I handling it? All I can say, is: Free at last. I am free at last. Yes, I love my son. He's wonderful. But I need a break some times and so does he. These moms who are crying about their three-year-olds going off to school three mornings a week (as Jude is), come on! You know you're just kidding yourself! There has to be some small part of you wanting to celebrate!

Three hours, a few days a week, with only one child? I'll take it. Three hours, a few days a week, when I don't have to come up with new answers to the question, "Why?" Bring it on. Three hours, a few days a week, when someone else can try to convince him to eat the food even though it is "too hot" or "too cold" or "too colorful"? That sounds good to me. Three hours, a few days a week, when I can listen to the birds chirping from outside my window instead of the sound that usually scares them away, the screaching of a child yelling, "Momma, momma, momma, momma, moooooooommmmmmaaaaaa!!!!!"? Where do I sign up?

I'm sure I would feel differently if he was at all sad about school, but he's not. I'm sure he's tired of me some times too. Playing with a bunch of kids on a play ground has got to beat vying for my attention at home or trying to keep Ruby away from his trains. He's definitely ready. We're both ready.

What I do feel is pride. And happiness, for him. I was so excited about that first day, as if I was the one going to school. It was really exciting. The school he is going to is just so perfect and wonderful, I am genuinely, extremely excited for him and so, so proud of him. He's such a big kid now. My boy. In school. It just makes me feel all warm inside. And free. :)