After breakfast we biked to the elementary school with the big kids. It's the start of their second week of school and the weather finally feels cool and fall-like.
After racking up bikes and giving good-bye kisses, Henry and I rode on. Instead of heading across the street and onto the trail that leads to our house, today we took a left turn and followed the sidewalk.
Today we headed to pre-school.
My front tire followed the dark gray trail his back tire left on the pavement as we descended down the hill, through a neighborhood cul de sac and to the treeline, where we hopped off to walk our bikes over roots and stones through the woods.
We arrived at school early, where we found a place for bikes to stay for the three-hour duration of school and I snapped a few photos. We read a book in the library together and then I took Henry's hand and we walked down the hallway to his classroom.
There, with a brave grin, he looked into my eyes and he kissed me. He paused at the doorway and kissed me again, and in a slight faltering of his confidence he wrapped his arms around me and I whispered: "Have a great day! I can't wait to hear all about it" -- a bit of reassurance mostly meant for myself.
Henry let go and hopped into his classroom, where warm smiles, tiny chairs and laminated alphabet letters awaited him.
Then, I rode home alone and took a nap, because the weight of late-night football watching, 10 years of prepping kiddos for school and the anticipation of loving a newborn suddenly felt heavy. So lovely, but heavy indeed.
It's heartwarming to see those kids grow up so nicely, and such a momentous occasion! ... Nice to know there's another in the pipeline :)
ReplyDeleteOh, and by the way, to say that nap of yours was well-deserved would be an understatement.
C.