First Grade!

We had a countdown going for this day for what seemed like forever and then somehow it just snuck right up on me and I’m left here like,

what the hell just happened? First grade!! This is serious business now. We have a real school ager in the house! Like real responsibilities.

Real bedtimes and proper dinner times. Can’t just pick up and go anywhere anytime. For as long as our forseeable future, we have real

adulting to do. She’s ready, but I’m certain I’m not. Sigh.

She was so excited when the sign showed up in the yard. Kept asking to take a picture with it but I kept saying, wait till you’re in your cute

little jumper! She packed her school bag last night then laid out her clothes. I wasn’t even allowed to help her get out lunch items, much less

prepare them. We set her very first alarm because, “I’ll just need like a solid 20min to get up, get dressed and eat. I’ll just wake you if I need

you.” :-/ Sure enough, one minute after our alarms went off, I went in to make sure the alarm went off and she was already about to tie her

shoes. I went back to get myself ready and she went down and fed herself breakfast. Book bag on her back at the front door with 10 min to

spare. In which time all 3 boys woke up. The morning was so smooth it was unbelievable. Here’s hoping that’s the norm?

Slept on, smashed curls. Same plaid I wore for eight years, nearly 20 yrs ago! So surreal.

Our hearts melted with Daddy’s letter to her. She had to finish reading it to me because I was too choked up. :*(

Best perk of our neighborhood is all the kids gather and walk together, to and from! YES! When we got there I realized I forgot her lunch

box and I told her I had to run back for it. “Mom, don’t worry, I already got it in my bag!” Thank God she’s responsible. :0 I also realized

when I got home that I didn’t see if she packed a napkin, much less write a sweet little note. One day I’ll get this under control? Maybe?

The fresh first graders.

She told me she didn’t want me to walk her but my heart hurt too much not to. We raise our kids to be independent, but sometimes I just

want to feel needed!! So the boys and I chugged behind as she walked with the oldest girls. Though, I saw her peek back a few times to

ensure I was behind her. That made me so happy. Like my friend said, she doesn’t need me but knows I’m there when she does!

And that’s that! She’s off in this big world to do big things!

You know. I’m sad that a new chapter has started in a blink of an eye but I’m just so excited for her future that excitement outweighs my

emotion. Truly, I’m mostly sad because I lost my extra set of hands around here when a sitter isn’t around. She always is ready for what I

need before I can ask and holy cow!! What will we do without our MamaNoJo to help me wrangle these wild boys?! >_<

Heart, Melanie.