Wednesday, August 21, 2013

First Days



I received a call from our grand daughter last evening that I was not really expecting.  She had just completed her first day of High School and was calling to tell me all about her class schedule, the friends she had not seen for awhile, her teachers.  I was pleased to learn that her first impression of her teachers was all thumbs up.  We spoke for about fifteen minutes then she asked to speak to her grand father.  What?  Knowing how he hates to talk on the phone, I told her to hold on and went in search of himself.  I told him that Arianna had asked to speak to him.  So she regaled him with first day High School Hi jinx  (as though in my dotage I might leave out a detail).  Then he was speaking to Michael, 2nd son, and laughing at something he was telling.  Mac says, here's you mom, tell her about that, and he thrust the phone in my direction.  So, Michael tells me how they dropped her off at the bus stop then drove around the block to sit just out of her sight to wait for her to board her school bus.  Michael told me that he was telling Anna (daughter-in-love) about how he felt the first time Arianna asked to go into school all alone, no Mommy or Daddy trailing behind to make sure she got into the right classroom.  She was in first grade.  As he was talking to Anna, he had a melt down.  When they eventually arrived at work, one of his work friends asked about the red swollen eyes...and he told him "just having a bad morning".  But eventually he had to tell them how this sudden feeling of losing his baby girl had affected him.  And as he related it to me, I had to laugh as I recalled my own meltdown episodes in my sons' lives.

 

My major meltdown did not come with Wallace's first day in Kindergarten in Norfolk, Virginia.  I still had a baby at home after all, and the nest might be feeling a tad roomier, but it was not really empty.  Both of us waited at the bus stop that first afternoon to welcome the young fledgling back in.  He showed us the pictures he had drawn (even then his drawings were better than mine had ever been), about his teacher and about nap time.  Yes, nap time.  I think he was glad of nap time.  Then  that year flew by and the following year it was Michael's turn to be initiated into the great school time experience.  I watched him go into his first class room, went to the car and cried as though my heart were broken.  Mac, who was at Sea a good deal of the time, never got to go through these traumatic times.  The Navy owes him so much for all he missed.  But anyway, I cried for two days.  Then my good friend Patricia Roney, took me by the shoulders and shook me.  It was like a scene out of Moonstruck as she yelled, "snap out of it!  They will both be back at 2:30!"  It was like having cold water dashed in my face.  Of course they would.  Then she proceeded to talk of shopping without beggars (oh come on, you know what I mean...."I want"  is always the first things out of their mouths when you hit a store.)  And off we went, shopping till nearly time for the school bus to arrive home.

  I am so glad she didn't remind me of the other firsts that would eventually bring me to tears...first day of High School, first day of college, first move away from home forever as they took wives...and the first born grand child who even now was breaking my heart as she grew up and away from us.  Too soon grown, too soon gone.  Happy first day of school you children of Chesterfield County.  Don't forget to tell your family all about it, it is a memory they will hold in their hearts forever.
 

17 comments:

Kathy's Klothesline said...

Sweet. I had 5 children and have to admit that I was happt to see the first 4 go off to challenge the world. I did not want to let my baby go. When she first tried to sit up, I pushed her down. I can still feel her pushing to be put down to walk. And school? Well, by that time she was the same independent self she is today! I did mourn the loss of our alone time without the bigger ones, but the freedom was amazing!

Jeni said...

When each of my three kids started school, I remember feeling a trifle on the weepy side but managed to keep myself together. The day the tears actually came though was the day my two daughters and I took my son, their only brother, over to the bus station in Dubois where he boarded a bus bound for Pittsburgh where he would be welcomed and ushered in as a private in the good old U.S. Army! I couldn't stand by the bus and watch it pull away and had to go to my car where I sat and cried over his departure. For my girls, it was their weddings that did me in --once again! And now, anything and virtually everything the grandkids do is liable/likely to cause me to get very teary-eyed, for sure!

Vee said...

Nothing sweeter than a grand willing to talk. I love chatting with mine about their days. Sometimes it's like pulling teeth, though so I'd be thrilled with a phone call. Your son sounds like a peach of a dad.

Brian Miller said...

smiles....we have been back over a week already....this is my oldests last year in elementary school....wow hard to believe....love em now...it goes way too fast....

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

I remember all of those first and the tears I cried, while my baby, just turned his back and walked away filled with excitement lol.

Hilary said...

Both of my kids walked into their first day of school with joy and anticipation. I walked away with tears for my older son's first day. My younger one had spent a lot of time in the school with me as I volunteered on various committees so he was often welcomed into the kindergarten in the two years before he actually started school. So I was already quite used to him being in school and didn't cry when he began officially. I can only imagine what it will be like when there are grandchildren.

Cloudia said...

How very lovely.
So glad I stopped by, Sandi





ALOHA, Friend
from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
><}}(°>

Catherine said...

Don't they just break your heart - it's the price we pay for love.

Lee said...

Lovely story and memories Sandi! Can't wait to hear how you all react when she goes off to college. And of course all the special events in between now and then. ;-)

Love,
Lee

Judy said...

Sweet...that she called you and all the precious memories. My twin granddaughters are starting junior high this fall. I can hardly believe it! Time hurries on.

Finding Pam said...

I wanted our sons to be independent and self sufficient and they are. I cried for a month when the oldest son went off to college. Seven and a half years later, the baby left and I didn't cry because he came back for a while. Then life renews itself in grand children.

Sally said...

So very sweet, Sandi! So many "firsts" we never forget! I love hearing how much Arianna wanted to tell you both about her first day in HS. It's such a blessing when they want to share with us. Love her pics; she's a beauty!

xoxo

Jules~ said...

Hi Sandi. Thank you for sharing and reminding me to look through my own memories. Time does go by so fast. Every memory is such a treasure.

SandyCarlson said...

I am glad your granddaughter wanted to talk to both her grandparents. That's the kind of love we all need.

Donna said...

My eldest granddaughter, Sam is now graduated, going to beauty school and has a job...Lordy, how I miss her plastic hi-heels and sweet little sticky fingered "Gamma? I lubs you forever and ever" hugs...
(((HUG)))

imbeingheldhostage said...

:( oh geez, Sandi, I need to go hug my kids now.

The other night, I went in to kiss a sleep Miss Ky and when I climbed into bed, I solemnly stated, "One day I'm not going to have a little body to hug and cheek to kiss anymore". I depressed us both.

Anonymous said...

I think my biggest crying jag was the when the first one pulled out of the driveway with his brand new driving license in his hand. :)