What do I do now?

[lisamariewillbe 1]

I just spent the last hour and a half realizing that my life from this moment on is different. I have spent the last 10 years of my life as an extension of my children. I gave life to the greatest people I know, and today I watched as my baby went off to kindergarten and I swear that it was only yesterday that he was being placed in my arms for the first time. I sat at the window with tears welling up in my eyes as my youngest child mingled with new people, as he embraced his new found freedom, all while not even realizing that outside the classroom door, his mommy was watching him through her tear stained eyes, having his first dance, his first kiss, learning to drive, graduating etc... I watched my baby turn into a man. I sat there staring. I sat there remembering. I just sat there. I could not bring myself away from the door. I waited, just in case he needed me, HOPING he needed me. None the less he continued with his new life. His life as a school kid preparing for his future. I feel lost right now. I am alone in my apartment still in tears, for the time lost, and for the times yet to happen. Any other parents feel this way?

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[Rookie120 0]

I dont have any kids so I dont know what to say how I will react when the time comes. All I can say now is these are the moments that you will cherish.

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

[CSpenceFLY 1]

I'm not a parent but I think you should be commended for raising a child that is that confident at that age.That will take him a long way in life.You must have done the job right up to now.Now when he fucks up somewhere down the road don't get all bent and blame yourself.At some point we all choose our own road.

[Perplexiti 0]

I felt that way on my daughter's first day of pre-K. It broke my heart when I had to call her back to me for a goodbye hug. It seemed as though she had forgotten I was there. On the bright side it made me realize I had prepared her for the future. I hope I continue to do such a good job!

--------------------------------------------------Live for today, Love as if there will be no tomorrow!

[pincheck 0]

no just the natural instinct off a parent who wants the best for their children. Remember that along the way our kids will still look to you for comfort and support its our job to still give them it.

so Mommy your job has just begun

Billy-Sonic Haggis Flickr-Fun

[flyangel2 2]

You are looking at the situation way different then the way I looked at it when my boys were off to school.

I did the happy dance out side the classroom, because I could smell freedom.

My oldest is now in college and living on his own, but he does call mom if he needs some thing.

My other son is now a senior in High School and will graduate in May.

The smell of freedom is getting stronger.

I must have done some thing right raising them, because they have both turned into fine adults, ones that I am so proud of. My job is almost done

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

[missg8tordivr 0]

Aw sweetie. I have not experianced that yet, but I am sure one of these days I will. I really want to have children. I am sure it is tough, but you hang in there....once they hit their teens you might be feeling a little differently.

***
F LORIDA!

[popsjumper 2]

LisaMarie...
I feel your pain. I had the same when my son went off to new adventures...he got on his first school bus and didn't look back. He went off to his first scout camp and didn't look back. Was he well prepared? Yes. We had always tried to instill a sense of independence and self-reliance in him and that was a good feeling to know that we were somehat successful but still....it was very tough to let him go off on his own...very tough.

Crap...with the rememberances, now I feel it all over again....

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[Peej 0]

I don't have much advice on how to make letting go of them any easier but here's one of my favourite poems for you. It's called "Walking Away" by Cecil Day Lewis, it's written from a man's perspective as he realises that it's time to let his son go but i think the emotion is the same.

hope you feel better.


Walking Away
for Sean

It is eighteen years ago, almost to the day-
A sunny day with the leaves just turning,
The touch-lines new-ruled - since I watched you play
Your first game of football, then, like a satellite
Wrenched from its orbit, go drifting away
Behind a scatter of boys. I can see
You walking away from me towards the school
with the pathos of a half-fledged thing set free
Into a wilderness, the gait of one
Who finds no path where the path should be.
That hesitant figure, eddying away
Like a winged seed loosened from its parent stem,
Has something I never quite grasp to convey
About nature's give-and-take - the small, the scorching
Ordeals which fire one's irresolute clay.
I had worse partings, but none that so
Gnaws at my mind still. Perhaps it is roughly
Saying what God alone could perfectly show-
How selfhood begins with a walking away,
And love is proved in the letting go.

Advertisio Rodriguez / Sky

[haymangonzo 0]

LMW,

Just by writing this, telling us how you feel, I know you're a great mom and the tears you have are tears of love! Girl, start worring when you don't feel the pain anymore!

Good vibes to you!

Cheers,
Gonzo

***
Nice to meet you toot!

[livendive 8]

Get used to it. They keep maturing at the same pace, no matter how much we'd like them to slow down for awhile and let us enjoy a particular age. While they remain our "babies" forever, they do have to grow up, it's just part of the deal. Here's a picture of my daughter and I taken last month.
Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[Frenchy68 0]

Quote

I watched my baby turn into a man

...maybe it's time for "The talk" then...

"For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

[lisamariewillbe 1]

Thanks everyone BUT Frenchy (Frenchy, he is entirely to young to have "the talk" with him, hes got at least 13 years before his first jump)

I survived his first day of school and had a crap load of other great news today. The most enlightening thing I learned today was when I read a "survey" on my child and his response to "whats your parents names?" He replayed "Yes Ma'am and No Ma'am" hehehe so cute.... well I think so anyways

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[ChrisL 2]

Quote

Any other parents feel this way?

My wife and I are getting ready to watch our youngest go on active duty in the US Marine Corps.
We are both very proud, very nervous, and my wife in particular is not starting to wonder what do do in place of being a Mom.
Not that she is no longer a Mom, but you know what I mean. No more kids at home after Chris leaves...

Me? hehe. I'm lookin forward to it! Love my kids, but I'm glad to see em, all off and takin care of themselves!

__

My mighty steed

[j0nes 0]

you could always borrow a neighbor's kid until yours comes home from school.

[lisamariewillbe 1]

Ive had such a good day, even a troll couldnt mess that up.

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[lisamariewillbe 1]

I tried to resize just one photo... but well Im not good with the computer with that, so here is a link to a picture of my favorite people...

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lisa_marie_abdrep/album?.dir=7588&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[jumpjunkie2004 0]

Sorry you had a difficult first day - it sounds like as the day went on things got better.

My son started high school yesterday and my daughter went off to second grade. I was relieved that I'd have 5 hours each day to recover from the other 19. I look at my son - now six feet tall - and wonder where my little boy went. He was sweet and adorable until he was about ten and then he started getting a major attitude. The middle school years were very difficult.

Enjoy them while they are little!

Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat...