The Wheels on the Bus go Round and Round.....

Fall is in the air and a very "grown up" third grader is off to another year filled with exciting possibilities. I don't know where the time has gone but it is defiantly laughing at me as I stood this morning and kissed my son goodbye.

I love the first day of school. All the kids are in crisp new clothes, squeaky shiny shoes and their hair has that nice watered down control factor going on. My son is eight yet he smells of RightGuard and Tommy borrowed from Dads bathroom cabinet. I wish that he wouldn't grow up quite so fast. Another year or two and I will be able to wear his shoes. His hip new glasses are showing off sparkling blue eyes just waiting for the first recess bell to ring. His "pizza" sandwich is packed in his new backpack but I have a sneaky suspicion that most of it will get thrown in the trash as he dashes out the big metal doors for the playground. Last years exciting discovery was tetherball. I wonder what this year will bring...

As my husband and I walked home after dropping him off I tried to decide what half of my heart was going to win the emotion of the morning.

I felt happy for him. All of the wonder and awe. To be a "big" third grader. For endless possibilities to unfold. A new school, a new teacher, new friends. A whole new world.

I felt deeply sad in my heart. Each year that passes my "little boy" is left further behind in my heart. My "baby" is slowly fading before my eyes while turning into a young man. He barely fits into my lap anymore to read.

In the end I swept the clenching sadness aside and anxiously waited for him to get home and share the adventures of his day with me.