1st day of school

Well my little sweet Catie started school today. She was not thrilled since she was going to a new school but she was very cooperative this morning. We got to school and as Max and Charlie and I walked her to her classroom we almost had to drag her since she was so scared. We got to her new room and we told her teacher about her lip and I got her out of PE for the week (that made her happy) and as we found her desk and were about to leave she melted down. The desks were in clusters of 5 and she was the only girl at the table. A combination of a new school, her busted lip, and the thought of sitting next to all boys was all too much to handle and she cried and made me feel terrible! She didn't cry her first day of kindergarten or even Pre-K but today was different. I almost wished she would have cried on her first day of Kindergarten but instead she skipped right in and went to work! It would have been easier to leave on that day with a crying child but the only person crying 2 years ago was myself. Leaving an older child at school was terrible! When they are little they quickly forget that you left and are so easily distracted. With a 7 year old they aren't so easy to manipulate. Her teacher moved a little girl named Emily next to her and I think that helped a little PLUS this Emily girl was very sweet and hugged Catie and talked to her about how scared she was when she started a new school. I always think of Catie as being this older child that takes on a lot of responsibility and I forget that she is still little. I left the room and hesitated to look back but did anyway and I saw her sweet little face and that new haircut and that fat lip and realized just how little she still is and it made my heart happy to know that I still have a little girl and not an older girl as I refer to her most of the time. I know she will shine in the 2nd grade and make lots of friends and bring joy to her teachers heart just like she has done every year for the last 3 years. I will still miss her during the day and watch the clock until she gets home just like I have done every year since she started school. No one seems to put in the books how hard it is to watch your child grow up! They talk about discipline and how to raise them but they don't tell you how to make your heart stop hurting when they do go out into the world as little people ready to learn and become who they are supposed to be. I have 6 hours to go until she gets home and I will watch the clock and look forward to her hug and excitement over the 2nd grade and her new school and all the new friends she made. I hope the time doesn't crawl by like a snail. I'm ready to hold my bug-a-loo!