i know...it's hard for people to understand why i didn't take a day off to be there for AJ's first day of kindergarten. a lot of moms do it... i'm the oddball mom who didn't do it.
it's hard for me to understand why people take the day off. so i tried to think why did AJ's mom not take the day off for his 1st day of kindergarten.
some reasons i could think of:
1. i don't remember my mom or dad making a big deal out of the 1st day of school. i don't remember my own self making a big deal out of the 1st day of school when i was going to school. i remember some kindergarten days clearly - i usually had a note pinned to the front of my shirt because i didn't know how to tie my shoes, open a milk carton, was too quiet, couldn't zipper or button my jacket. i don't think i have a pic of me on my 1st day of school. i'm not upset that i didn't grow up with a 1st day of school tradition. maybe i'll start traditions for the kids and maybe i won't. i hope they know i love them regardless if I make it to the 1st day of kindergarten.
2. i value school but it's not like he is going to his 1st day of Harvard.
3. i wanted him to have the routine from the get go. 1st week of school is chaotic for the school and daycare...i didn't want to add more chaos to the mix by confusing both school and daycare regarding 1st day pickup and dropoff.
4. he is aware that he is different because of his eyes. he already has the sense that i am over protective. i have a tendency to nag him.
'stay close to the car' 'stay where i can see you' 'don't cross the street' 'hold my hand'
'i know mom' 'yes mom' 'you don't have to tell me mom' 'i can do it myself mom'
i didn't want him to see the anxiousness in my eyes or hear my hovering helicopter mom voice.
5. i'd also like for him to feel like he is 'normal' ...that he is like everyone else. everyone rides the school bus and he has learn that he is not any less or more than everyone else.
i want him to be strong...that he will be ok even if i'm not with him all the time. the other kids are growing up fast..they are rougher and tougher. i want AJ to be able to roll with the punches. to suck it up. to be resilient.
6. i don't have many personal time off (PTO) days left for the year. where did my time go? fix my car appointments, a very mini vacation in wisconsin dells, dentist visits, md visits for both kids, jasmine's seizure in June, school/therapy conferences for AJ, eye surgery + post op md visits for AJ last week. i gotta save my days for AJ's next eye surgery + the post op visit and any emergencies that might occur from now till the end of the year.
