school days

Many mornings, it hurts my momma heart to drop my boys off at "school.
G cries a few mornings a week and it takes everything I have to smile brightly and wave as I walk away from him, sobbing in his teacher's arms. He is quick to turn them off...when I peek back through the window on my way back from L's room, he's always dancing or smiling at the infants or dressing up in a funny hat. L is so happy to get to school that I have to remind him to give me a hug and a kiss some days. But it still hurts to leave my sweet boys all day long.


I gotta admit, though, that there are some things about their school that fills my same momma heart to bursting status. Seeing them reunite with a hug after spending the day apart.

Taking 20 minutes to get out of the building because they have to get hugs and high-fives from half the staff before they leave.

Reading the board in G's room that says they "explored feathers," "went on a buggy ride together," " splashed in warm soapy water," "painted with Q-tips."

Peeking into L's room seeing him balancing a bean bag on his little tennis shoes, after learning how penguin daddies carry their eggs on their feet. And even though he always insists, "No pictures," so I have to go all paparazzi-sneaky to get a shot of him, those images are burned into my brain forever.


Three weeks ago, I carried G to his room. Last week, he insisted on not only walking, but carrying his lunch to his room. Boyfriend took that blue lunch box, sauntered to his room, walked straight to his teacher, handed her his lunch, and pushed her aside so that he could go bid the infants good morning.

G's teachers chuckle at me because the dirtier G is at the end of the day, the happier I am. I know he was engaged, interacting, learning, if he has green paint in his hair and shaving cream on his sleeve. I get ideas for the glorious summer when I do get to stay home with them...especially art activities, which I've been waiting patiently for him to be old enough to participate. I make mental notes at 4 pm each day...glue/shaving cream; glitter on contact paper; bingo dobbers.

And then I thank my lucky stars that I have a few more months until all those mess-making supplies are in my house.

And watching my boys with their friends? Well, that makes the warm fuzzies multiply. L comes home telling me exciting tidbits of information about his friends who were wearing matching!shirts! or that he finally was faster than his best friend on the playground today. I've seen him "use his words" to work out an issue on more than one occasion. Even G can name his friends, and I'm always floored at how much interaction actually goes on between him and other kids, all of whom are under two.

Learning to get along with different kinds of kids, work out problems, and work side-by-side peacefully? As far as I'm concerned, that's as important as the pre-academics. L's teacher told me this week that he has made huge progress on walking away from kids who aren't doing the right thing. I couldn't help but do a silent fist pump upon receiving that nugget of information.

Would I love to spend more time with my precious boys? Of course. Would I love to have leisurely mornings? Absolutely. Would I miss the frantic make-the-lunches-pack-the-backpacks evening rush? Hell no.

But do I think, all things considered, that they are exactly where they should be during the day?

Without a doubt.

Namaste'.