I wasn’t sure where to take this personal notes post today. As you know, I recently traveled halfway around the world to visit Europe, and Toiny (and family) (Manda). I can’t wait to share some of our adventures with you, it was an incredible first trip to Europe, and so many amazing things happened. But, Toiny’s post about Tess’s Last First Day pushed to to post about my last first day this year as well. Europe will have to wait.

School started this week for my kids. This year I have a 7th grader, a 2nd grader and a kindergartener. My last kindergartener. He was so ready for school to start, both emotionally and educationally. Me, on the other hand, I’m not so sure. For 13 years now, I have always had a kid at home with me during the day. A buddy, a snuggle bug, a helper….but now, I’m alone. As happy as I was for him, I was feeling a little sad for myself. As he stepped onto the big yellow bus without looking back my eyes welled with tears. All day I wondered how he was doing, what he was doing, if he was making friends and having fun or if he was sad and missing mom.

Turns out, it was all of the above. He was ALL smiles when he got home. He LOVED kindergarten. He couldn’t wait to go back. But, the moment that pushed me over the edge, pushed me to understand that both he and I were ready, had to be ready was the hug. He climbed down from that big yellow bus with a huge, proud smile on his face and ran straight into my arms. “I missed you mom, but kindergarten is so fun”! That moment. I was ready.