my baby goes to preschool

Today, my baby started preschool. It’s my second go round, and leading up to it, I haven’t been too sad - or really sad at all. Everyone was ready, and I have no doubt that he’s going to thrive. Being the youngest, born in the dumpster fire that was 2020, and always being carted along with his older brother, I kept him home for an extra year to have some time with just me and him. And admittedly, it hasn’t been easy. I’m a better mom with space for myself and that has been few and far between the last three and a half years.

But now, I’m sitting in a coffee shop alone with a few hours of peace, catching up on work and emails and writing with watery eyes after watching my baby confidently hang his backpack in his cubby and walk into his classroom with his head held high. It’s the best you can hope for as a parent, and it’s utterly heartbreaking. Wanting to watch them fly (and get them out of your hair), and wanting to hold onto them forever. I’m almost eight years into this gig, so experienced enough to know how it goes. Everything is a phase that drags on for ages and flies by in an instant. All that to say, I’m just so dang proud of us for making it this far.

If you also have a little starting daycare or preschool or kindergarten, know that I’m here with you feeling all the feelings.