Pencils, Paper, and Peanut Butter and Jelly

Ah, the smell of freshly sharpened pencils and crisp new paper just yearning to be written on while piles of new school clothes and shoes fill up the closet. It's that time of year again: HS has returned once again to school. Only this time, instead of me balling my eyes out while watching him enter a school as a new timid kindergartner, I found myself crying as I watched him walk down the hall toward his classroom as a confident 1st grader who had a little fear in his eyes as he prepared to embrace a new teacher, friends, and school.

Walking back to the cat bus I prepared to busy myself with chores and distractions that I used as ploys to cover up the emotions that always find themselves within my head as I deal with my little guy growing up. As the clock ticked closer to dismissal, I began to crave his chatter and excitement of the tales of 1st grade. He did not disappoint. As we pulled up to get him he gave us a huge wave, smiled from ear to ear, and bounded toward the car with a teacher holding his hand. Each day he has been the same. Now, as the ticking of the clock edges us closer to 2:15, I find myself wondering what he'll share since so far he has been a riot to listen to:

1. "Mommy, the kindergarteners are really tiny. No wonder I'm a 1st grader. I'm to tall."
2. "Do you know that I can be called my real name?!?! I'm the only one with my name!"
3. "Mrs. Brown says hot lunch begins tomorrow. I told her I'd rather have peanut butter and jelly."
4. "We have afterschool care at my new school. I'm not going am I?!?! I'd rather come home." (last year he thought it would be fun to be like some of the kids and stay at school until he had to stay once...then he didn't want to go back).
5. "Yeah we do the pledge of allegiance. We also sing some kinda song that is in a different language. I'm not sure why..."
6. "I'm going to be good because if I am I get to get an M&M out of a car!"
7. "Remember to wave at me when you see me!"
8 "Geesh...you sure did keep me waiting!" (I was the fourth car in the pick-up line!)
9. "My teacher is really organized! I'm not sure how she got that way!"
10. "Mommy, aren't you glad I'm back? You must have been lonely."

Yes it's true. It's official. HS is a 1st grader and yes, he's right, I'm lonely. Not in the sense that I have nothing to do, but those times that we get to spend with him are precious ones. It's time to watch him enjoy the nuances of school, craving peanut butter and jelly for lunch, and loving his new teacher's cool gadgets.

My little man may be getting older, but the sound of his happiness and tales of his adventures that fill the cat bus in the afternoons will continue to make my heart sing and his wave and smile that greets me when I am pulling up to the school will forever be etched in my mind.