off to kindergarten

i just dropped my tiny newborn baby off at his first day of kindergarten. that's how it goes, you know... you have a tiny little newborn keeping you up all night and then, all of a sudden, you take them to kindergarten. 

he's been bouncing off the walls with excitement. we've been discussing it for weeks, he loves to talk about how "great kindergarten will be." it's all day, so i've explained he'll be eating lunch there. he asked, "will i eat dinner there, too?" and "will i stay there and sleep there?" no, buddy, you won't live there. i'll pick you up everyday. 

he was so excited to see his teacher, mrs. cooper, aka miss meghan from preschool last year. over the summer she went from "miss" to "mrs." and also from preschool aid to bonafide kindergarten teacher. so it's a day of firsts for all of us. 

i was fine until i said goodbye and then i totally teared up and did that laugh/cry combo thing. mrs. cooper fussed over me a little and looked as though she was tearing up, too. it was really funny. i've always wondered what makes a mom cry on this day. what specifically is it that brings the tears? is it b/c she's not ready? or she'll miss him or she's worried? or she's just so proud of him? or maybe she has regrets. maybe she knows the highs and lows school can bring and she longs for a way to prepare him, shield him. well, i suppose you could say it's all of that b/c what made my eyes sting this morning is how much i love my son. i just love him. 

and so begins little man's 13+ year career as "full-time student." 

now what? i guess bode and i will go to the pool. 

or maybe we'll just listen to lee ann womack all day. sniffle, sniffle... sob, sob... i hope you dance, mac. for the love, i hope you dance.