Dear Kindergarten Dads

Dear Kindergarten Dads –

With back to school time approaching all of us, I want to make a plea to dads of kindergartners everywhere – please give us moms a break this week. I don’t know what it is about our babies starting school (after all, I have had my kids in daycare, preschool, and have no problem leaving them with a babysitter on Saturday night), but something about this right of passage makes us all emotional – unreasonably emotional. I am generally a pretty calm parent, but even I found myself tearing up tonight thinking about my little buddy getting on the school bus.  I can’t put my finger on exactly what it is that makes us upset…

Maybe it’s that we know that we just lost some of the best quality time with our son/daughter.  That reoccurring mom guilt rears its ugly head once again, and we think about the time that we spent working when we could have been hanging out on the playground.

Maybe it’s the fact that we know that they are going to meet new friends and while they have been wanting to spend every painstaking waking minute with us for the last 5 years, those days may be nearing the end as they find ‘cooler’ people to hang out with.

Maybe it’s that we know that this is the beginning of a long road of structure, schedules and expectations for our little guys.  Their completely carefree days/nights are now on hold while we have earlier bedtimes on school nights and have pre-planned days ahead of us.

Maybe it’s because we will miss them, their silly faces, questions and stories.  We will miss their craziness and the piece of our lives they have been every day for the last 5 or 6 years.

Maybe it’s the fact that we are losing a little bit of control.  Up until now, most of what our kids have learned, we have been a part of.  We are always there to help pick them up, reassure them, and make sure they were ok.  What will happen if our kids are bullied or have a bad day without us?  Will they be ok?

Of course they will be ok. I know that.  I am not scared for them.  I know that they are going to have the greatest time meeting new friends, learning, and exploring the world around them.  I know they are ready for this big day – I just hope I am.

So, back to you Dads – help us out this week.  Bear with us as we are a little extra emotional.  Don’t make fun of us when we cry while making our little one’s first lunch.  Give us an extra hug.  Save the Valentine’s flowers and send us flowers for the first day our house is a little quieter.  Understand that while we may not have logical reasons on why we are emotional, it is just a hard week for us moms out there.

And moms – hang in there.  Your kids will do great – and so will you.  MOM ON!