School’s About to Begin: Where Did Summer Go?

Sarah Auerswald / Sarah's Blog / 2 Comments

More like where did my son’s childhood go?

Summer’s almost over, and I am anticipating the return of our daily school-year routine (with its attendant stress), the hours I will have to write without interruption, and the challenge of watching as my kids stretch and grow.

I am also anticipating all the changes coming our way since my eldest is going to be a middle-schooler this year. That means he’ll be attending a new school, which we’ll need to drive to instead of walk. Plus he has to wear a uniform this year, which he’s not very happy about.

I’m so proud of and amazed by my son, who’s grown so much in the past year, and who delights me on a daily basis, and I worry about what middle school will be like for him. Will it be like the movies? (I can’t believe I just wrote that, but it should tell you the level of worry I’m dealing with here.)

I’m sad to see him leave elementary school – it really feels like just a minute ago he started Kindergarten. But I knew it would happen, right? It had to eventually: he’s 11 now and I admit I couldn’t even imagine that the day he was born.

He was so tiny once, and he occupied so much of my world then. The hours I spent not leaving the house because I was such a clueless new mom!  I would just stare at him. Stare.

Then, my worries were that he wasn’t getting enough milk or that he hadn’t rolled over at the right stage. Now I worry if he’ll make new friends easily, or if he can stop telling himself he’s not good at math.

Clearly this is more about me than him, more about letting go of my baby and embracing my son. So wish me luck.