I recently had a full-on Mr. Mom moment at Wito’s school. The honking, the traffic flow volunteer flashing me the “roll down your window while I admonish your blatant disregard for the drop-off procedure” sign (if you are wondering- it’s moving the right arm in a cranking motion with a side of evil eye), the whole kit and kaboodle. How could this have happened? TO ME, of all people?! What kind of person actually reads the 59-page PTA manual on the first week of school? I do, dammit! I am that person. I studied the traffic flow map LIKE A BOSS.
When Wito was in kindergarten, the rule was to park and walk your child to and from the classroom, and when first grade started a few weeks ago, I continued to do the same. It’s a large K-8 campus, which can seem a little daunting at times. Plus, Wito still gladly holds my hand as we meander through the much older children. “He’s still my little boy,” I think to myself as we make our way to the classroom. I need to relish these fleeting moments.
Last week, as we were driving home from pick up, he told me he was ready to be dropped off in the mornings. His reasoning was thoughtful – he was older now, most of the kids in his class were being dropped off, and it would be easier than finding a parking place and walking – I had to agree. So for the next few days, I let him lead me to his classroom without any assistance. He was good as gold.
While packing up the car one morning, I confirmed that he was ready for drop off. We talked about the importance of walking directly to his classroom to keep from being tardy. He was on board. We drove to school, I got into the drop off line for the first time, and although I was in the correct lane, I made the mistake of stopping too early and letting him get out at the wrong curb area. THE TRAVESTY. Mothering license revoked! Wito tried to get out quickly, but his backpack got stuck on the door, which then prompted a blinged-out Escalade directly behind us to lay on the horn. (Thanks for that, by the way. Very kind.) Wito got a little frazzled, I was a little frazzled myself, but he got out as quickly as possible and I continued to pull forward until receiving my dose of corporal punishment from the traffic volunteer. I craned my neck to see if he was headed in the right direction, but I just saw him yelling “BYYYYYE, MOM!” and running towards the entry. Every bone in my body wanted to stop to make sure he made it into the campus, but the ginormous SUV was riding my bumper like a monster truck, so I just said a little prayer that he made it to his class on time. Which, of course, he did.
Upon returning home, I told D about our little Michael Keaton moment, and instead of giggling like I expected, I started sobbing. He looked at me completely puzzled, and asked, “Why are you crying?” In that moment, I realized my tears had nothing to do with embarrassing carpool mistakes or honking horns or eye-rolling. Oh no, those tears came from a much deeper place. As much as I try to hold on, my baby boy isn’t a baby anymore. With every little milestone that passes, my children are growing up, and it breaks my heart a little bit. I want to hold Wito’s hand forever – to feel his little fingers squeeze mine and never ever let that memory fade.
When I returned to pick him up from school, instead of walking up to his classroom, I hung back a bit and let him find his way to me through the influx of parents and kids and siblings and backpacks. When he appeared donning a huge smile, I asked him how his day was. He grabbed my hand tightly, and said, “It was a good one, mom.”
A good one, indeed.
Kristin
August 13, 2012 at 3:52 pmTear-jerker! Ahhh!
Also, I work in a car pick-up lane at my school. It is really confusing/frustrating for everyone (me included). Don’t feel bad…
Sara
August 13, 2012 at 4:59 pmI still feel teary at the bus stop, and my daughter will be in third grade this year! A lovely post.
Megan @ Mama Bub
August 13, 2012 at 4:59 pmThere’s a park parking lot right next to our school where there is NO DROP OFF ALLOWED. I park there sometimes because we’re still in Kinder and have to walk them all the way in, but last week the police were there giving warnings to people dropping off in the fire lane. THE POLICE. People were straight up arguing with them about dropping off in a red zone, and every rule following bone in my body wanted to run away. Anyway, I’m not ready to talk about the days when I have to let him walk into school by himself.
Heather
August 13, 2012 at 5:01 pmMy daughter is also in 1st grade this year. I know exactly where you are coming from. This post even made me get a little misty eyed.
Lorna
August 13, 2012 at 5:11 pmIf it makes you feel any better my son will be in 6th grade and he still holds my hand from time to time.
bishop stu tu
August 13, 2012 at 6:01 pmdear whOOrl gOOrl,
I left my heart in Lawrence, Kansas…and a pot’fulla tears.
What a boy…that Derbs….he’ll probably beat Paul Ryan to the white house.
yo dad
Caroline Cohenour
August 13, 2012 at 7:31 pmOH MAH GAH, I LOVE YOU BOTH SOOOO MUCH. Well said, mama. I’m sniffling right along with you on this one!
ohjennymae
August 13, 2012 at 8:37 pmmy boy is in 1st grade, too & he still reaches for my hand. thank goodness because i don’t want to know what it’s like when he stops.
Dorie
August 13, 2012 at 8:38 pmDelurking because this is such a timely post for me. This morning my 2 year old started a new daycare and at drop-off I cried my eyes out in front of a bunch of teachers and other parents. He’s my third child, I’ve been taking kids to daycare for seven years! Why the extreme mommy emotions???? And next week my 5 year old starts kindergarten. I’m sure there will be more crying in public.
Sonja von Franck
August 13, 2012 at 8:58 pmCompletely misty eyed over here! My son starts kindergarten next week… I’m going to need to be sedated. But I love that you balanced it with the humor of Mr. Mom. My Dad was laid off right when that movie came out on Beta and man did he love that movie! He was down in the dumps for a long time, but that movie always made him laugh.
Luisa
August 14, 2012 at 12:15 amUm, my baby is 2 months old and I’m already sort of heartbroken about how fast he’s growing up. (Ridiculous, YES!) I can’t even fathom a babysitter, let alone school drop-off! Sob.
Amti'b
August 14, 2012 at 2:43 amCrying now.
Amti'b
August 14, 2012 at 2:44 amPs “why are you crying” such a dorr boy thing to say.
Evi
August 14, 2012 at 4:59 amLovely post! It made me cry! We always want to celebrate those little milestones, but we don’t want to believe that they are growing up! They will always be our little babies.
Raluca | WhatWouldGwynethDo
August 14, 2012 at 6:46 amAaaaah…make me cry, why don’t you?! Great story, mama. I have decided to just keep D in preschool forever.