Starting School again

Starting School again

I’m really excited for the Bean to start to school tomorrow and so is she. When we told her she was going to a new school, she jumped up and down, did a little dance and yelled “yippee a new school.” It’s all she’s been able to talk about since Friday. She’ll be going from 8-1:30 with the option to stay until 3 (but I’m not ready for that, and I don’t think she’s ready to try naptime at school either). This will also be the first time that I (or James) have not made her lunch.

I keep thinking that I’m going to miss her when I go to the grocery store tomorrow (we’d finally gotten really good at that, the little truck added to the cart doesn’t hurt either). This good grocery store thing was not an easy thing to accomplish either, but we did it. She is well behaved, quiet and patient for up to an hour in the store. We haven’t had to leave a cart full of groceries in a long time. Nor have I wanted to pull out all my hair and poke out my eyes with a spoon in quite some time. And we’d found a way not just to do it well, but to have fun.

School is the right thing to do for her. She’s starting to spell, she’s trying to write and read, she wants to do everything herself (except for put on her socks). She’s a really social little bean. She’s so excited too–packed her Thomas the Tank Engine backpack on Friday for school tomorrow. She told everyone at Church today that she’s going to “monsorri school tomorrow.” She walked right up to Miss Courtney on Friday and put out her hand and said “hello Miss Courtney, I’m Emily.” The school seems really nice and REALLY laid back. Mr. Andy, the cook even has a huge ear barbell and wears all black. There’s lots of outside time (YES!) and everyone is very friendly. The kids were immediately interested in the Bean and she ran right out to play with them when we went to meet everyone and fill out paperwork.

So why do I feel like crying (I mean aside from my period and the fact that I baked a bajillion banana muffins for our breaking bread service today)?

Because I’m going to miss her. A lot.

I know this is good for me too. I want time to write. I need a bit of time away from her (especially now) to, like James said “replenish my Emily energy stores.” Because they are being depleted quickly with her being in the defiant and testing time that she is. I’ll have the chance to actually start lifting weights again and planning menus. And decorating this house and yard that I (we) love so much already. I’ll even have more time for the kitties and volunteering at Church at the Shelter. It’s all good.

But I’m going to miss her. A lot.