In typical Shelbi fashion I knew what I needed to do today to get Grace ready for her first day of school, pack what she needed in her backpack, and at what time I would need to leave to pick up my father at the airport – and yet…. Did Shelbi pack Grace’s backpack the night before? Did Lily wake at her usual crack of dawn? Did I have Lily’s outfit picked out and ready? Breakfast planned? Ahhh… That would be ‘No’ – ‘No’ – ‘No’ and… ‘No’. Maybe subconsciously I knew if I ran around like crazy trying to dress, feed and prep everyone and everything and sprinted out the door just in the nick of time, I wouldn’t have a moment dwell on the fact that… my baby was on her way off to her first, first day of school!
Or I am just me… a chaotic, whirlwind of ADD and I wasn’t prepared because I never am… Either way we all made it out the door with everything and on time to “rescue Grampa from the dragons!” {Or, for those of you who don’t speak “Grace”, pick him up from the airport.}
I snapped this "C'Mon Mom!" photo before we piled into the car to pick up Grampa.
About to walk into school...
Grace's best neighborhood buddy, Taylor was already waiting to go into the classroom when we got there! The girls were so excited to show off their backpacks to each other!
Okay Grace.... A quick photo with Daddy and then Mommy before they open the doors to your classroom...
Notice there is no photo of Grace with her Mommy...
After I snapped the picture of Brian with the girls Mrs. U. opened the door to the classroOm signaling it was time to come in. Like a blur Grace shot past me, past all of the other children waiting and straight into Mrs. U's arms. By the time I made my way into the classroom Grace had already hung her backpack on her hook and was with Mrs. E. {above} signing her name to the daily sign-in sheet.
I was able to get a quick hug good-bye and tell her that I loved her before she was lost to the wonder of her classroom. There were no tears. No begging either Daddy or Mommy to stay. Nope... just an "Okay - Love you - Bye..." as we tried to re-assure a girl that had already and without our help, lept into preschool with both feet and without so much as a backward glance.
When I returned at 3pm to pick her up, a very excited Grace lept from her chair to show me her painting and then quickly said "I don't want to go home! I want to stay here!" -- I might have expected a tearful good-bye and while I was mistaken in that expectation, I knew all along she would say something along the lines of not wanting to go home when I returned to pick her up!
I had a moment to visit with her teachers after all the other children and parents had left and was informed in a "jovial" manner "Grace is a little chatterbox!"
I expected to hear this - I just did not expect to hear it on the first day!
Our first, first day of school is now under our belt.
The only emotion I am feeling at the moment is excitement.
I cannot pine for her infancy.
I am so proud of my little "chatterbox".
This is a good thing.
This is going to be a great year!
My baby is a preschooler!
