Kindergarten

It's been over two months since Ethan started kindergarten and the transition has been a wonderful one! He's made new friends, learned new skills, LOTS of vocabulary from his peers (yikes! Nothing lewd yet), and he's learned to read.

Most mornings dad takes him to school (we live too close for the bus route), but on those mornings when I take him I am often overwhelmed by the same feeling. It's not sadness, not pain (though it's a kind of pain), not regret...

It always happens when I say goodbye to him and he trots off to join his classmates in line. Something about this image of him walking--no running--away from me, fills my eyes with tears and pulls at my heart strings like nothing else.

These are the bittersweet things about growing up. He's only five, but already he does not reach for my hand when we walk across the street. He packs his own bag, gets himself dressed and makes his own bed. I am thrilled at his independence, but these little moments are also a practice in letting him go...because one day he will indeed leave me for good.

Ok...enough of the sob stories...I'm hormonal, and have good reason to be. But that is another post...

These are photos from the first half day of school...

And his first full day...

He is a happy boy in his school...eager to learn new things. And I always anticipate 3:30 when he comes home and tells me about his day :)