Xander started pre-school today. We've both been excited for his new class to start. He'll be going 2 days a week (instead of one) and the best part - THERE'S BUS SERVICE from my front door to the school and back again. YEAH!
I asked James yesterday if he thought it was weird that I'm not emotional about the kids going to school. In fact I'm more than a little excited for both to eventually be in school and am thinking of starting an advent calendar of some sort. I shall title it "Days To Mom's Sanity." James assured me I'm normal and everyone that gets emotional are the weirdos. Well that did it - I was fated to get emotional over something.
We got ready this morning, had a big breakfast and talked about what was going to happen today. New school, new teachers, new routines, first time on a bus (and without parents to boot). It was going to be a big day. Xander was happily singing "School Today, School Today" while running around the house and trying to convince me we needed to leave NOW. I decided to pass on the bus ride to school for the first day and would take him myself (all planned ahead with the driver of course). We arrived at school about 10 minutes early - perfect timing if I do say so myself. I talked to the teachers and said goodbye to Xander. I got a little wave as he ran in the classroom - obviously not going to miss me!
On my way back to the car I stopped to talk to the bus driver to confirm Xander's trip home and that he'd be being picked up on Monday. The teacher told me it would be a different driver & bus for the trip home. WHAT!?! I told his teachers to be sure he would get on bus #64 and now there won't be a bus #64?!? The bus driver went on to tell me that he didn't know who the other bus driver was or what bus number it would be. Luckily, one of the teachers was outside with me and said she'd have it all figured out before the kids got done with school. I looked at her and whole heartedly said "You get my boy home safe" She smiled and casually said "We'll get him home." That's when it hit me! I felt the emotions building up in my throat and I couldn't talk. It was part awe that my son is growing up so fast but mostly fear that I wouldn't be bringing him home. This is a whole new experience for me - trusting strangers with my kid and on the road no less!
Class got out at 1:30 - I figured the bus ride would take up to an hour. How many horrible moms put their toddlers on a bus? Not many probably - he'd be home in no time. 2:00 rolled around and I started getting ancy. I wanted to get a picture of Xander coming out of the school bus so I had my camera ready and was on watch. 2:30 came and went and I was quickly turning into PANIC-MOM. I had the front door open because I wouldn't want to waste precious seconds opening the door when he got home. I was sitting, on the floor, looking out our glass door waiting and waiting and waiting. It was HORRID and the longest 15 minutes of my life. Finally, I could see the promised bus coming. I went outside and started down the walk. The bus stopped in front of my house and then started up the road! WAIT! The bus backed up when she saw a crazy woman in the mirror waving. I climbed on board to get Xander - he was the last one on the bus - and completely forgot to get a picture! ARGH!
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