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Tuesday, September 9, 2008

to school we go.

dear gavin,
twenty years from now, you probably won’t even remember today. however, i truly doubt i will ever be able to forget it. today was one of those “milestone moments” that will forever be etched in my memory, right up there with all of your other “firsts”. that’s right, today we embarked upon a new adventure. to be honest, it’s still hard to believe that you are actually starting pre-school, you just don’t seem old enough! it seems like only yesterday that you were just a tiny little baby, totally & completely dependent on me for everything & anything. but, here we are, just 3 short years later, & i’m kissing you on the cheek, patting your head & watching you walk into your new classroom all on your own. i guess it’s time for me to accept that you are now a big boy, or as you like to say “the man”.

it’s funny… i feel like i’ve been preparing for this day forever. we’ve gone back to school shopping, gotten a new lunchbox, & i busily prepared the “perfect” snack. as a family we celebrated with a “back-to-school” extravanganza (a la nie nie)… complete with homemade party banners, gourmet blue cheese burgers, broccoli mandarian orange salad, & a big ‘ole slice of “five minutes in heaven” cake. we released balloons, representing our hopes & dreams for this coming year. your dad gave you a special blessing last night, & the backpack (or in our case the “bucket”) fairy paid you a visit. but in all seriousness, most of this was probably just for me. you woke up this morning & didn’t even realize that anything was different or “special” about today. when i dropped you off at school today, you scurried off, without as much as a look back, almost like you had been doing it for years. and although i may have been impatiently waiting for the clock to strike 12, so i could pick you up, you actually looked disappointed when i said it was time to go home. (although you definitely perked up when I placed a celebratory glass of frrrozen hot chocolate in front of you.)

obviously, i don’t really need to worry anymore about how you are handling all this. you seem to be doing fine. hopefully i’ll adjust just as easily, & as quickly. so, i guess i’ll let you go back again on thursday, if you really want to. oh, & by the way, just in case you wondering…. the required hug & kiss are definitely not optional – even if your friends are looking.

xoxo, mom

23 comments:

Monica said...

That was so sweet Kelly. It almost made me tear up! I was just trying to imagine my 3 month old little boy as a 3 year old...it seems so far away.

Cassie said...

Isn't it crazy how fast time flys! I'm sure Gavin will love to read that when he is older. How cool would it be to look back now and have a letter from our parents from every "first day of school".

J+S said...

Such a sweet post.

Travelin'Oma said...

Congratulations on this big occasion! Did Owen feel bad that he couldn't stay, too?

Erica said...

I just love the idea of the "backpack fairy!" What a great idea!

Shannon said...

such a sweet post! I just went through that same thing with my 3 year old today! You were able to express your feelings so well... all I could do was say WAHHH (that was the extent of my post)! Good luck. Sounds like he'll be fine! :)

Bridget said...

That was really cute. It's true that in 20 years he won't remember but its so great that he can see and know how you felt on this special day.

Misty said...

so precious! I wish I'd thought ahead, and written a letter that first day... It's sad when we run out of firsts!

But you did such a great job preserving your perspective of his day as the mama!

SandraRee said...

Beautiful post Kelly. It brought tears to my eyes, I remember when my boys were that age. Gavin is a beautiful child. And "the man" will still need you for a long time to come, honest. :)

Coleen said...

Gavin is so cute! I am glad he had such a good experience and hope that you adjust to having a big boy.

love.boxes said...

Amen to the last line. I told my daughter the other children are just jealous because I adore her so much! Good luck with your new scholastic career Gavin!

Marilee said...

Whether our kids are going to college or pre-school our lives change a bit. Gavin looks like he is ready and raring to go. What a nice evening your family spent together before the big day. And a father's blessing, the best part!

just jen said...

so very sweet. it's okay if you tear up every day at drop-off...at least for the next couple of weeks...it's all preparation for their first day of first grade, which i hear is THE killer. so wear your fancy mascara and let the tears come...we get it. hugs!

Wendi said...

That is one good-looking little student!

Anonymous said...

What a sweet, sweet post Kelly! It's so hard letting them go, isn't it?

Sonya said...

Kelly...seriously! A kleenex warning would have been nice!

That was the most heartfelt letter! I know that when Tres becomes of age to walk away from mommy like that, I will totally BREAK DOWN and probably be that psycho mom that sits in her car until he gets out of school!

Thank you so much for sharing such a huge milestone with all of us!

Hope the days get easier for mommy to handle!

*hugs*
Sonya

Sara said...

So sweet. Good job, mama :)

Sara said...

Oh, and I love the idea of a backpack fairy. Or a lunch box fairy. I think we may need to institute that for next year.

TUTU Monkey said...

Sniff.....thank you so much for sharing such a special moment.....((hugs))

mama jo said...

can't beleive my baby is old enough for preschool...before you know it, he will be in college...

Tiffany said...

What a stinkin' cutie!

I remember when both of my kids went off to school the very first time - and, yep, I cried! It's such a right of passage and a time for reflection for us mamas.

You're post is great and something he will always have to make a memory for him. Keep your chin up!

Alison Wills said...

ah, cute pics of gavin

Tonya Staab said...

I hope you are putting this letter aside in a special scrapbook for him for when he is older.