FIRST DAYS
First Days...we all have many in a lifetime. Many of you young Moms are facing that
"First Day" of school. While some of you are packing up college bound children for
that FIRST opportunity to experience freedom and independance while you spend
many a sleepless night worrying and wondering if you
prepared them well enough for this all important step toward adulthood.
I laughed when I saw this cartoon because I've been reading so many Facebook posts
of the "My baby is going to school without me" variety.
I was teaching school when each of my three children entered Kindegarten so for me it
was all about not having to pay Daycare fees! Another perk for me was the fact that
my children would be attending the same school at which I taught special education.
Tears of joy were more the variety I shed and sort of "poo pooed" those other moms
crying over little Johnny's First Day of School. Oh but life has a way of making sure
you regret shining your Halo at such an early age. Yes indeed, a lotta crow was eaten
with humility as I made up for those piously unshed tears when #1 Son left home for
college. You would have thought someone had died here on the Farm. The entire
family made the loooong trek to Montevallo that fateful Aug. day, 1994. Our family,
minus One, returned in one car, without a word being spoken, the first 150 miles. As
is common practice in our family when all heck breaks lose, we eat Ice Cream! Not
wanting to break tradition, #1 Husband pulled into the first Ice Cream joint he spotted.
Quietly, the four of us, sat in a booth and began eating our ice cream. Slowly, the
words came, one...then two...then a whole sentence... until #1 Husband told his FIRST
Joke. We all knew at that moment, we were going to be okay...different...but Okay...a
little sad...more like a LOT sad...a vacancy at the booth noticeable but unspoken.
FIRST DAY's are memorable for different reasons. Some are exciting. Some are sad.
Next week, will be a First for Gmama and #1 Husband. It will be the first day one or
both of us has not spent the first day of school as an educator. BOTH of us will NOT be
headed to school for the first time in 46 years. Rest assured no tears will be shed! We
plan on going to one of our favorite Breakfast restaurants, talk with all the other retired
teachers and friends, read the paper, and enjoy a good cuppa coffee TOGETHER.
Here's to many more FIRSTS for Gmama and #1 Husband!
Here's hoping your First Days of the past will be remembered with gratitude and First
Days of the Future will be full of Hope and Expectation.
Blessings
