Yesterday was her last day of summer vacation. To celebrate, I took her to the aquarium.
Today, she got on a school bus for the very first time and headed off to kindergarten. I thought she might falter. And by “falter,” I mean “throw a hissy fit of monumental proportions while refusing to go.” She didn’t. She kissed and hugged us and happily ran to the waiting bus alongside two neighborhood playmates and her big brother.
After the bus drove off, Wonder Woman and I stood in the driveway and hugged each other and silently acknowledged that our family had reached another milestone … a milestone that places our children further away from our Bubble of Parental Protection, and closer to the Gaping Jaws of Life.
I can protect her from fake sharks. I can’t protect her from The World … but I will kick its ass if it’s not nice to her.
Got it, World?
(PS: How ’bout that acting, huh? I predict an Oscar for Best Father/Daughter Performance In a Role Requiring Feigned Fear of a Monstrous Shark That Wasn’t Really There.)
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You know that whole separation anxiety thing kids are supposed to all go through when they’re like, one? My daughter never did that. Ever. I have a feeling that when she starts kindergarten, she will eagerly jump on the bus like your daughter did, and I’ll be the one throwing the hissy on the sidewalk.
I think it means you are raising a confident well adjusted child.
That’s the hope.
We extended our 5yo at her current school, so that it didn’t feel like she was really going “off” to kindergarten. See how tricky we are?
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I think that the huge milestones are much harder on the parents than on the kids. I cried while he happily skipped off to kindergarten. I cried when he happily walked into middle school. And I cried again when he sauntered into high school. And yes, next year, when he actually LEAVES me to go off to college, I’m sure I will cry buckets.
Their growing up sucks.
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Love the pic! Boy is she growing up. Congrats to you and Wonder Woman! You guys are raising wonderful children.
When the last kid toddled off to school we jumped in the car and went to a little local bar and had 3 Bloody Marys to celebrate! We walked home and took a morning nap. That’s what we call it …… in front of the kids ….a nap.
You should teach her to kick the worlds ass.
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