Originally Posted By vbdad55 <'Course I will have lots of *kid-free* time to go to Disneyland....hehehe< Maybe not -- my oldest may be a junior in college and have a boyfriend and all that -- but she NEVER has missed the family Disney trips and she has informed me shenever plans to....
Originally Posted By HRM >>Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die.<< Ah the memories, just within the family even... I remember my younger sister crying when her first goldfish died, and knocking on my door asking what to do.... of course, we..... *flushed* (when she wasn't looking)
Originally Posted By gardenrooms My "baby" is 23. I still remember what it was like when I had to go back to work when he was 6 weeks old - I would have to act all cheerful so he wouldn't catch the wrong vibe, then I'd cry all the way to work - sob, actually - for days and weeks. I'm surprised I didn't get into an accident. Fast forward 18 years when he went off to college. I have only 1, so full nest, empty nest, just like that. Well, I went back to college, too - actually started school before he did - and now I have 20 little Kinders to nurture and cherish on loan from their parents 180 days a year. What a great way to fill a big hole! Though I still remember driving home from school that first day after my son left for college agan with the crying, saying to myself "What am I coming home for?" But every phase has been wonderful. I always remind him about the time we went to the old folks home with his cub scout troop, and a lady said to him, "My baby just turned 50!" with a twinkle in her eye. I tease him that he'll always be my baby! Although in truth, he is a man of whom I am very proud.
Originally Posted By GrumpysWife >Maybe not -- my oldest may be a junior in college and have a boyfriend and all that -- but she NEVER has missed the family Disney trips and she has informed me shenever plans to....< Boy, tell me about it. Our next DL trip in November includes 3 DS, 2 DDIL, and one MIL!
Originally Posted By wendebird >>Thank God mine are just 6 & 9 right now. Although I know the time absolutely FLIES!<< My girls are the EXACT same age. 1st grade & 4th grade. We didn't have any tears on the first day of Kindergarten though. I decided to keep my girls home with me & I homeschool them through a local Charter school. I remember what it was like when I had my oldest in Pre-school though. It was heartbreaking.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan My daughter started high school a couple of weeks ago. A couple weeks before that (it really seems that way) it was her first day of kindergarten. My son is in 6t grade now, almost out of elementary school. Dunno why it all goes by so fast, but it sure does.
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy <My son is in 6t grade now> I'm so sorry he was held back from 6u
Originally Posted By beamerdog Funny, I never had those feelings when my 2 went to kindeergarten/preschool. However, *now* my youngest has bought a house and is moving out forever. I'll let you know how that feels after moving day...
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 I never had those feelings either beamerdog and I was feeling kind of cold. LOL, I believe with one of my sons I was actually skipping to the car I always looked at it like recharging time for me to get ready for when they came home or time to play with the younger ones and not feel like I was leaving someone out (I was a stay at home mom). Now our 4th child is leaving for college on the 24th. I'm OK with it as I was with the other 3 leaving. BUT they all went to live in dorms that were 20 mins to an hour away. I felt like my apron strings were at least that long Hugs to you ajsmommy, I laughed about your 2 1/2 hour break, how true My sister is a pre school teacher and my daughter's favorite grade to teach is Kinder. The stories they tell of the first day of school are precious, especially about having to pry the parents away from the kids who are trying to get on with their day
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 forgot, we spent a good deal of time yesterday trying to figure out daughters finals schedule because she doesn't want to miss our annual DLR trip during holiday time She's decided she can fly down for the weekend, LOL So far she doesn't know that we are going down for DCA's halloween treat...........shhhhhhhhhh.............
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess Am in a sentimental mood today and remembered this thread and thought I'd post one of my favorite (poignant) Erma Bombeck articles. It's one I refer back to often in my mind, and it helps me appreciate my kids that much more. -------------- No More Oatmeal Kisses A young mother writes: "I know you've written before about the empty-nest syndrome, that lonely period after the children are grown and gone. Right now I'm up to my eyeballs in laundry and muddy boots. The baby is teething; the boys are fighting. My husband just called and said to eat without him, and I fell off my diet. Lay it on me again, will you?" Okay. One of these days, you'll shout, "Why don't you kids grow up and act your age!" And they will. Or, "you guys get outside and find yourselves something to do... and don't slam the door!" And they won't. You'll straighten up the boys' bedroom neat and tidy: bumper stickers discarded, bedspread tucked and smooth, toys displayed on their shelves. Hangers in the closet. Animals caged. And you'll say out loud, "Now I want it to stay this way." And it will. You'll prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn't been picked to death and a cake with no finger traces in the icing, and you'll say, "Now, there's a meal for company." And you'll eat it alone. You'll say, "I want complete privacy on the phone. No dancing around. No demolition crews. Silence! Do you hear?" And you'll have it. No more plastic tablecloths stained with spaghetti. No more bedspreads to protect the sofa from damp bottoms. No more gates to stumble over at the top of the basement steps. No more clothespins under the sofa. No more playpens to arrange a room around. No more anxious nights under a vaporizer tent. No more sand in the sheets or Popeye movies in the bathroom. No more iron-on patches, rubber bands for ponytails, tight boots or wet knotted shoestrings. Imagine. A lipstick with a point on it. No baby-sitter for New Year's Eve. Washing only once a week. Seeing a steak that isn't ground. Having your teeth cleaned without a baby on your lap. No PTA meetings. No car pools. No blaring radios. No more washing her hair at 11 o'clock at night. Having your own roll of Scotch tape. Think about it. No more Christmas presents out of toothpicks and library paste. No more sloppy oatmeal kisses. No more tooth fairy. No giggles in the dark. No knees to heal, no responsibility. Only a voice crying, "Why don't you grow up?" and the silence echoing, "I did." Erma Bombeck
Originally Posted By wendebird >>Funny, I never had those feelings when my 2 went to kindergarten/preschool.<< >>I never had those feelings either beamerdog and I was feeling kind of cold. LOL, I believe with one of my sons I was actually skipping to the car.<< I think a lot of it has to do with the child. My youngest would love nothing more than to have gone to Preschool or just to be in a crowd of children she doesn't know. She's VERY social & loves to get to know new friends. However, my oldest is very shy & a lot like me. Everyday I dropped her off at Preschool, she would cry & cling to me. I took her for 2 years too! Just a few hours a day, 2 days a when when she was 3 & 3 days a week when she was 4, but she HATED Preschool. So I dreaded taking her to K. Now we homeschool & she's so much more confident & not nearly as shy as she was when she was in Pre-K. I just think Homeschooling was the right choice for her & my family. It's not the easiest & not for everyone, but it works for us.
Originally Posted By ajsmommy The 1st week of school is now passed. Andrew is loving everything about kindergarden. In one day he did all his homework that is not due till friday. (I KNOW that will change LOL) He is very proud of the fact that he can cross the monkey bars all by himself now and begged dad to take him to the park last night so he could show off his new talent Yesterday was his 1st piano lesson. He cant wait to play (and I quote) "bag time peenano like at Disneyland" and me... I am SO enjoying my 2 1/2 hours of quite time. I know that I only have about 120 days + or - before the new baby arrives so I am soaking up every second of my free time while I have it LOL!!!
Originally Posted By beamerdog You're absolutely right, wende. My older son has an unusual disability and went to a special school until he was 14. He's exceptionally bright and I ended up "homeschooling" him AFTER he'd get out of school. His teachers admitted that they could never give him enough intellectual stimulation in that setting. To be a parent and homeschool your child during the day, every day, takes a dedicated parent. It's not for everyone, but I've seen it work well in certain cases. Okay, returning thread to topic, lol.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 Thanks for letting us know how your week went ajsmommy It's excellent that your son has had time to be happy in school before the baby comes. It will be routine to go each day. I understand what you are saying Wendy. All my kids had neighbors or friends to go to preschool and kindergarden with and were all social and happy to go. I knew we were lucky with that in getting them to get in the car each morning. Kids skipping off to school=mommy skipping back to her car One day in preschool, 1st son did do the quarterback thing through the other parents legs to get back to Daddy, begging him to take him home. Daddy was the fun one DH felt awful. Have fun with your alone time ajsmommy
Originally Posted By roberts1398 Momofprincess... thanks for sharing that. I didn't think there were any of those Erma Bombeck jewels I haven't seen before, but I was wrong. That was wonderful. It's funny, but when my firstborn went off to Kindergarten (my Andrew), I wasn't sad at all -- just happy for him. But with my baby last year, I sobbed all the way home after he went into the classroom. Everything seems more poignant with your last one! He's in 1st grade now, and doing soooo well. So, AJ's ... enjoy Kindergarten for all it's worth. It's a really wonderful time, full of discovery and excitement and friends. Try to go to all the field trips you can. Volunteer in his class. Take lots of photos and scrapbook them! <----- waves to Wendebird
Originally Posted By momofbuzzfan I would be curious about an update as well. Kindergarten wasn't so bad for my oldest last year....but sending him off to 1st grade a couple of months ago was rough. 6 1/2 hours is a long time for a 6 year old to be in school and have to be paying attention, etc. I missed him during the day...and he missed being at home. But we are both finally setting in. I'm just glad I like his teacher....who is very supportive of us taking him out of school next week to go to DL! (Bonus!!!)
Originally Posted By LVBelleFan Update: (I know it's not kindergarten, but I did mention my two "kids") My younger son is now 25 and has been in his house for some time now. He's been promoted to Asst. Branch Manager at his bank and makes some nice money and has a ton of responsibility. He's fairly nearby, calls me if I don't call him for a few days, has a nice steady girlfriend, and gets out to lots of extracurricular activities. Always calls me before dad in emergencies (hit a deer Sat. night and wrecked his baby car, argh) and takes care of me in emergencies. I lived through that separation pretty well! Now I'm getting my 27 yr old with disabilities ready to live on his own (with a little help), so he should be ready in a year or two. He's getting an AS in medical coding and should have a good job waiting for him. His college does a practical before they graduate which really helps on the resume. check back in another two years, lol!
