First Day of Cool

I am not ebarrassed to admit that I have been dreading Charlie's first day of school since the day he was born. I realize I have been lucky to have him home with me for the first 5 years. AND of those 5 years, I have on several occasions pined for a day that someone else was answering his incessant barage of questions. But here I am, on the other side of the school bus doors and I am sad... heartbroken really. A friend of ours put it well when she said she "didn't want to share her kids with anyone." And that's exactly how I feel. Anyone who knows Charlie knows what a different soul he is. I know everyone thinks their kid is special... but mine really is (ha ha! I'm 1/2 serious.)

He, on the other hand, has been taking it all in stride! I've said from day one, this kid was born for kindergarten! He has adult-sized thoughts and ideas and I knew he would fit in just fine. It's his Mommy who needs a tutor (ok, and maybe a valium!) He only got nervous the night before when he realized I couldn't go with him like I had on the "Meet the teacher" day. But after some reassurance, he was back to being excited! He woke up at 5:30 that morning and was so worried about missing the bus! He scarfed down 6 waffles, got dressed and was ready to go! He was so excited that his friend from t-ball was in his class and on his bus! Despite my prior record, I promised not to "cry happy" (as he calls it) when he got on the bus. I saved it for after the doors closed at least! He looked up at me with his big brown eyes and said "ok, I'm gonna go now Mommy." He hugged Finny, Mom Mom and me and held his friend's hand and climbed onto the big yellow bus!


I was planning on following the bus route with my trusty sidekick Mom Mom, but I had to run back to the house for the forgotten nap towel, so we went straight to the school instead. We stood there for 15 minutes... 25 minutes... still no bus 19. The once chaotic bustle of kids was turning into a trickle and still no bus 19. The last buses rolled in and I heard one teacher say "We're still waiting for bus 19." Thank God my mom was there and was her usual stoic calm, but I was freaking out on the inside (and a little on the outside). An hour had gone by and all the greeters had gone inside, so my Mom went inside to get the skinny and a teacher told her his bus had broken down and they were sending another. WHAT? I didn't want to send him on that thing in the first place and now it's on the side of the road somewhere? I swore if I heard police sirens I was going to lose my mind! Meanwhile, the morning announcements were going on and all the first day things were happening without Charlie! Finally, after standing there for well over an hour, one of the secretaries came out and offered help. She said all the buses were accounted for. She even called down to Charlie's room to ask his teacher and there he was all along! His bus never broke down! I couldn't believe it, but I was so relieved! His teacher let me come down to the class to bring him his towel and I got to give him an extra squeeze before his day. Finny was really happy to have seen "Bobbo's" school, too!
After school, we took him to Friendly's to celebrate. I wasn't even thinking and let him eat all his ice cream. Afterward, we ran to a store and Charlie said he didn't feel good, so I took him out to the car to wait for Daddy and he threw up all... over... the car!! Needless to say it was a very windy ride home! Poor guy! But the part that got me was that night at bed, he said that "Andrew wouldn't think it was very cool that he threw up." I had to have the "be your own person" talk with him, which for some reason I thought would come a little later in this process! I never thought he'd be worried about being cool so young! It's only a matter of time before he starts making me drop him off a block before his destination!
I can't tell who is taking Charlie's absence worse, me or Finny! When he got off the bus, Finny hugged him for about 10 minutes. Everyday he saves a piece of snack for Bobbo. Waiting at the dr today, Finny saved a seat for Bobbo. He walked him onto the bus the second day saying "Bye, Bobbo I love you." All Charlie said back was "Bye," so Finny screamed "Say I love you, too!" I've had to drag Finny out of the street after Charlie gets on the bus. If Finny had his way I think he would chase after the bus! Well who are we kidding, I would too!

I'm trying to take it all in stride, but let's face it that's not who I am! I'm loud, sometimes dramatic and I'm overly sensitive. I can't let my kid leave for 7 hours a day without crying buckets. I'm working on it! So call me uncool!