School Begins

Another school year started for us in Columbus on Wednesday. I always enjoy the first day after weeks of preparation kids are excited to get back to see friends and meet their new teachers.

Every year, I try to make my way by the kindergarten classroom each first day. That area is always one that provides many emotional moments. Usually eager kids and crying moms. Moms letting go of their little ones and understanding they have grown up and are about to learn valuable life lessons. I remember a couple of years ago in Osage City I saw another site. A middle school parent crying when she let off her middle school daughter. Usually I see middle school parents "jump for joy" when school begins. It was a touching moment. My middle school principal assured the parent she will be fine, will take good care of her. I remember how tough it was three years ago when Debbie and I left Craig at FIT in New York City. Tears, prayers and a long quiet 3 hour plane trip home.

I Saw the following comment on a blog yesterday that talked about their little boy going to kindergarten for the first time: "Well, my little boy started kindergarten today. He was born just yesterday. I swear he was. Now he’s in school, spending a large chunk of his day away from his mother. I’m not sure how he’s doing right now, but his mom’s doing ok, but only as long as she doesn’t think about him. I’ve been spending a large chunk of my day away from the boys for years now and so his absence isn’t what’s bothering me today. It’s that this is the first major milestone in his life. There will be many others and today I’m realizing that they’re coming sooner than I’d like".

Milestones. We all have them. Appreciate them. Celebrate them. Enjoy them. That is the journey of life. Just as my two boys have celebrated milestones. I now know how the middle school mom must have felt.......