The School Bus

It represents so much more than a vehicle for transporting your child to school.

I realized this last week after a tearfully putting my "baby" on the bus and sending her off to school for the first time.

Prior to this,  I held back tears during orientation, braved the preview bus day (where parents and K kids got to ride the bus, learn the stops and meet the driver), and was nervous until we met her teacher. Did I mention two of her best friends were going to be on the bus with her? I still had trouble sleeping the nights prior to school and was an emotional mess. This is strange considering I was an elementary teacher for 10 years, and five of those were experiencing Kindergartners on their first day with me.  You would think I'd  be prepared right? Wrong! 

 It's not like I have never separated from Stalker #1, she has taken every class, sport and play date known to man for the past 2 1/2 years, as well as two years of PreK.  My "baby" is a very sociable kid. She makes friends easily, loves learning, has common sense, and enjoys new experiences. So why was I tripping?
I realized why I was tripping right after the bus pulled out of my sight that morning. That's when I realized the bus pulled off not only with my first born child, but a big piece of my heart took off  with it also. I didn't realize how much being a mother was really a part of who I was, and how connected I was to my "baby" until faced with sending her off into the world.

Eight nervous hours later, the bus pulled back up and out jumped my "baby", happy and excited. We walked back home and talked about her day while she ate her snack.

Now, I have an understanding with the bus. Every morning, I send a big piece of my heart through those folding doors, and every afternoon the bus returns it a little older, a little more independent, and a little smarter.


Do you love it? I've learned to! ( until she starts middle, or high school, or COLLEGE!)
Shells


Share your first day experiences with me.