My youngest daughter started Kindergarten last month. This is the child who has asked to go to school every day since she could talk. This is the child who has watched her sister go to pre-school and school from the very minute she left the hospital. She is joyful, bright, funny, infuriating, short tempered, the best hugger and a great little pal to spend your days with.
So...now she's been getting ready to go to school. She has been spending days on end talking about what she wants to learn, who she wants her teacher to be, how many friends she's going to make, and so much more.
My experience with her has been a totally different experience than with my eldest daughter. My eldest was nervous about school, we had no idea what to expect, and while she was excited to go, we both were very emotional and felt very unprepared. Her school experience, from Kindergarten through 2nd grade, was in a different school district and was full of teary days and nights, lots of unfinished work, bus ride bribery, and calls home from the school Last year we homeschooled (that's another story) and this year, for 4th grade, after a move to a new district, school, etc., she loves her school.
My youngest, though, started school and is so HAPPY to be there. She can't wait to get to school. She is finally able to experience these magical things she's watched her sister do (buying school lunch, taking notes to the teacher, doing homework (not really-she's mad about that) and going to the school library. It is such a relief knowing that I can leave them in a supportive environment where they are actually learning and being taken care of.
You know what's even nicer? BEING ALONE. Let that sink in for a minute. Stay at home moms, you know what I'm talking about. That dream that you have had for at least 5 years ( It's been 9 years for me) has finally come true. I can now clean up after lunch and there are not instantly dishes in the sink. I can now sit down without being asked to get someone food. I can vacuum and not have to pick up little shitty toys all over the floor because someone decided they can't wait to get out their Monster High dolls and rip all of the clothing and limbs off and then go get out their legos then run away, with it all still on the floor, and play on the swings.
Here's another benefit: my hubby works second shift-so we actually have most of the day together, without children. We can go out to lunch or coffee or watch an episode of Breaking Bad in the middle of the day or he can actually take a nap before work, be rested up, and I can go have coffee with my friends. Yes! Here's the most amazing part of this-we still like each other! (That's also another story).
So, while I have really really enjoyed and been driven completely insane by my two girls, being with them day to day, watching them grow and learn and fight and start to discover who they are, has been chaotic, fun, and a true blessing. I wouldn't wish it away or trade it for anything. However, that doesn't mean I'm not going to enjoy the shit out of this time- and my newly re-discovered FREEDOM.
