Ever since I had my Little Man almost six years ago, I seem to spend my life saying “I can’t believe where the time has gone!”. It starts when they turn a month old and then two and then so on until they reach a year old. It doesn’t seem to stop. The time flies by and before you know it you are dropping them off at school on their very first day, and if you are anything like me, you went home and sobbed like the baby that they used to be.
Now here I am, wondering how on earth it can be a year since that very first day? It feels like yesterday. Those feelings of overwhelming emotion and anxiety. This time last year I couldn’t think about it without getting teary-eyed and a lump in my throat. I really wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the carefree Mummy and Son days. But we had no choice. It was his time – time to shine.
And shine he did. After I got over the initial shock and got used to having a schoolboy, it became clear that despite old Mumsy here not being ready, Little Man was more than ready. The change that I have seen in him in the last twelve months really is something else. I look at him now and am just in total awe of this amazing grown-up little boy that I have. He’s shot up in height, and the babyface is slowly disappearing. He’s still straight up, straight down though – some things will never change! What can I say? He’s his Father’s son!
Over the last twelve months, I have witnessed our little boy grow into the Little Man that I’ve been calling him for so long. I watched him walk through those school doors and when he came out at the end of the last term, he was a changed child. Gone is the shy little one who hid behind my legs. Now he has confidence and enthusiasm for everything. He has made a wonderful group of friends in his class and through it all he has remained the kind, caring little boy that we met when he went to nursery. This makes my heart swell with pride.
Reception class was a learning curve, but Year 1 will be a whole new challenge. With proper books to write in, tables to sit at and lockers to look forward to. Little Man moves on to Year 1 with wide eyes and excitement within him. I am excited for him because if he learns at the same rate that he did last year, he will be excelling in no time.
Yet, I’m still here feeling a little sad. The Summer has come to an end and I have loved every single second of having him at home with me. I didn’t realise just how much I missed having my little buddy with me last year, day after day, week after week. It’s not until the Summer holidays come and throw you back into your very old routine that you remember how bloody great it used to be.
Now we’re here, at the start of a new term and I’m feeling like I have to let go all over again. I admit that it’s not quite as hard as last year as I know what to expect. I no longer of the anxiety of the school gate and I know that he will be just fine going back to a class that he knows and loves. But I will miss my little boy. I’ve got used to having him around again.
Whilst I know there are many parents out there that count down the days until the first day of term, for the time being, I’m not one of those. I may be one day when he is older, but certainly, for the time being, I am one of those that is getting used to that ache in my heart where my little man lives twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
So Little Man, just as I said last year. I’ll be there waiting as the school bell rings, as I always have been. I’m looking forward to seeing you already.
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