The end of an era

We have reached the end of a road here at our house.  The baby years, the preschool years are over.  I've been anticipating the end of this era, expecting it in September.  So I was sadly surprised when my baby, my little boy, returned from a week away with his Grandmother, a changed person.  Suddenly he was all grown up.  He had discovered a love for soccer and with it, a new appreciation for his father.  No longer did he need his mother the same way.  The rest of the summer has been all about dribbling a soccer ball and quoting World Cup statistics for my big, little boy.  I'm lucky to get a short snuggle at bedtime, which seems to be the only time left in the day when he has time for some motherly affection.

I won't lie, it hurts.  The past 7 years have been long and trying, but just like everyone says, they're over in an instant.  The starting line of a new journey is at my feet.  Yesterday marked the finish line of preschool.  It was anti-climatic.  I had grand plans to bring treats for the teachers and make a big fuss, but in the end I ran out of time, so it was a simple good-bye.  Bean brought his favorite teacher (and the only consistent one working over the summer) a hand made card to say thank-you.  We got a picture of them together.  In the end it was the teacher and parents that were sad, not Bean.  We've had three great years at that preschool and it will seem strange to not see those teachers every day.

Today ended up presenting a special moment as we transition into the full-time school years.  Schmoo went to a playdate and Bean's playdate got cancelled.  Instead he and I had our own playdate.  We went to the pool and swam together, playing and giggling as we did laps in the leisure pool.  We had a lunch date at Subway and went school snack shopping at Wal-Mart.  It was just what a heavy hearted mommy needed.

Tuesday brings the beginning of life at school.  I know that Bean will hit the ground running.  I don't expect any anxiety or concerns (except maybe when he has to wear Suarez - that's his helper hand's new name after the soccer star from Uruguay).  It's me that has to figure it all out now....school is the natural progression for Bean, it's figuring out what the natural progression for me that is the scary part.