HighSchool

My 'baby' is starting high school today. I am overwhelmed with these feelings of 'stop'. Just stop. Don't grow up. Stay a kid. Stay with me forever. Of course, I don't mean that. There are plenty of times when I can't WAIT for the kids to be grown and gone. But my heart says 'stop'. I am already starting to miss them. In four years, I'll be sending B. off to college - and then two years after that, H. will leave. And their entire growing up time will be over in what will seem (and does seem) like a split second.

They don't need us as much anymore. No more boo-boos to make better. They do need us for allowance and transportation - but that's about it. Other than that, we are the 'parental units' and are pretty much a PITA for them. They love us - no doubt about that. I know they do. And we adore them. But they are growing up - something that can't be stopped. Nor should it be. I just wish I had known when they were small how fast it would go by. I would have taken more pictures. I would have played with them more.

B. survived his first day. He said he ate lunch on a bench near his locker. He was worried he would 'miss' his class so he stayed near to where he needed to be in case he was supposed to be there. Makes sense. Of course, as his mother, I think 'you can't eat lunch by yourself everyday. GO to the cafeteria. Make friends. Don't be a loner'. I'm actually fine with him being a loner. I just don't want him to be lonely. I see myself being interviewed years from now saying 'well, we thought he was normal until he started eating lunch by himself every day. That was the first sign'.

And need I remind you, good reader, it's only his FIRST DAY of high school. This is going to be a long year. I'll be exhausted from all my 'fretting' by the time he hits his senior year. College ought to be a real trip/treat.