A Special Kind of Club...

My own, oldest...Britton, PROUD 2nd Grader

During the month of August, every year, all across America...a phenomenon occurs...a uniting, if you will.  An event that up until 3 years ago, I never knew existed!  Now, I am one of the millions of members.  During the month of August,  Momma's of school age children, get their hearts ready to send their child onto the next grade level...into a new room, with a new teacher, new "potential" friends, a new building...or if they are like friends of mine, an entirely new town! And during the month of August, all defenses are down...we're not stay at home momma's vs working momma's, breast momma's vs bottle momma's, boy momma's vs girl momma's.  No, in August, we ALL join together and become "heavy- hearted Momma's". Bonded..by the inevitable day when we have to "let go". 
Since the day my oldest son started pre school, it has become clearer to me why Momma's used to cry when they sent their kids to school on the first day of 6th grade! As a teacher, I would stand and stare and think.."seriously? You've been doing this 7 years..why are there still tears?"  Now...I get it.  No matter HOW old your child is..or how long you've been doing it, there is just something sad about seeing a summer of sleeping late, spontaneous picnics, cheering as they learn to ride their bike with NO training wheels (ugh), staying out till dark to catch fire flies and late night smores being replaced with early bedtimes, homework, alarm clocks and a drop-off line at a building that is NOT home!  They will no longer be with YOU all day long...they spend the majority of their days with another person...*sigh*....and you are stuck facing the reality that they really DONT need you as much as you like to convince yourself they do.  *blech*
So, as August passes this year, say a little prayer that we can actually DROP them off without shedding those tears, I mean gosh, who wants to cry in front of their independent kid? (wouldn't work anyway..they still leave!) and remind yourself that you are not alone...there are millions of other momma's out there doing the same thing...whose eyes are also burning with un-shed tears. Who also has to wave goodbye and either walk to their car...and/or (gulp) drive away.  And whether this be your oldest child's first year of Kindergarten or your youngest child's first year of High School, we are all in this together...UNITED...We are ALL Momma's having to let go.
 And, after we've made the long drive home or to work...we should all raise our coffee mugs and say "cheers"...CHEERS to you, Momma's...oh, and if this IS your first experience of having to leave your child all-day-long....We welcome you to the club...because you're not alone.  We are ALL with you.... Cheers *sniff, sniff*
    CHEERS.