They all took baths, we clipped their 30 fingernails, 30 toenails and we cleaned the summer out of their ears. We laid out clothes for today, double checked backpacks and then Daddy read them stories before tucking them in for the night.
Before hugging goodnight, I laid down next to my almost 2nd grader. Wrapping his arm around me, he teared up and told me that he’s really going to miss me. He told me his best parts of summer were camping, going to the beach and when just he and I rode our bikes together. I teared up too and told him I’ll miss him as well, but school will be so good. He agreed. We decided that a person can be excited and still a little sad all at once.
Laying there, I told him that what I hope for him more than anything is that he’ll be the one who stands up for what’s right. That he’ll be the one who sees that person who needs a friend and he’ll be the kid who does the kind thing, even with others don’t. We talked for a long time, prayed and then he got ready to go to sleep.
Standing in his doorway, while leaving his room, he looked at me and said “Mama will I do well?” Pausing and looking at him, I said “Oh yes, I am on your team and I know you’re going to do great.”
Glennon from Momastery said “Kind people are brave people. Brave is not a feeling that you should wait for. It is a decision. It is a decision that compassion is more important than fear, than fitting in, than following the crowd. Don’t try to be the best this year, honey. Just be grateful and kind and brave. That’s all you ever need to be.”
Today I’ll load kids into our car and I’ll drop them off. Being a Mom has made me part of a team so much larger than myself. I am now a cheerleader. I am on the sidelines, allowing my kids to navigate the game, while cheering loudly for them and reminding them of all of they know. And it’s not just our kids we as Moms should be cheering for. We get to cheer for our schools and our teachers and coaches and other people who are influencing our babies.
Join me in trying to be fully present for a few hours after the kids come home from school? Maybe we can all put our phones away for awhile and not try to ask the perfect “how was your day questions”, but simply be present. They need us. Time goes by too fast.
Happy 2016/2017 school year!