I'm spring-boarding off Potty's post about her son not needing to be walked into the classroom these days. The same thing is happening to me, although I think I have a little excuse to jump up and down with unabashed glee.
A few years ago I wrote how, when my youngest went into 1st grade (Year 2), it was the first time in about 16 consecutive years that I hadn't had a small child in the house either all day or half a day. I was finally free of the mad rush to get everything accomplished between about 9am and 11.30am. Of course, it was tinged with a little sadness that they were all grown up, (I have to say that really, don't I?) but for the most part I felt a certain sense of FREEDOM! (You really have to read that post to get the full sense of joy and abandon I felt at the time.)
It's happening again on a smaller, but possibly more meaningful, scale. See, little kids at our school start later than the bigger kids, so for years I've had kids going to school at different times. Given that we live only a few blocks from the school, it hasn't been a big deal; the older two walked on their own (or several feet apart usually), and I took the Little Guy in at 8.30am.
This year he's going into 4th grade (Year 5) and - oh joy - he starts at 8.10am, - just like his big brother. Do you know what this means?
I don't have to walk him there; I don't have to leave the house; I don't even have to get out of my PJs.
Of course it also means that one of them will probably kill the other one on the three-block walk, thus necessitating a chaperone (me); or, more likely, the Little Guy will take so long to get to his classroom (stopping to talk to teachers, friends etc) that he will lose half of his belongings before he gets safely to his locker and I will be forced to accompany him.
The other distinct possibility is that I will just never get dressed. Working from home, I quite often return from school drop-off and don't emerge till 3pm when it's time to pick him up. I am in real danger of becoming a recluse agoraphobic (if that isn't a redundancy).
Watch this space.
I remember that post. I'm sure you will find another task that will take the place of the school drop off. I can remember feeling like that too and am going through a similar process weaning myself off the granddaughters school day. It is a process we all have to adapt to and its not easy.
ReplyDeleteMaggie x
Nuts in May
I think you best "Don't make me walk you to school....." would work.
ReplyDeleteThankyou for the mention, and yes, the extending of *free* time (by which I mean 'child free', obvs - it's not as if I've somehow acquired a house keeper and cook along with the extra few minutes, sadly) is something to be marvelled at, I agree.
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ReplyDeleteSuch bliss. There are definitely advantages to an age gap which enables you to delegate childcare to an older sibling.
ReplyDeleteYou've still got the dog to make you get up and dressed and out of the house!
ReplyDeleteSometimes on a Saturday I don't get dressed until the afternoon - luxury! Though a bit awkward if someone calls round, which does happen.
I had it easier last year when we had a car share with some sixth form college students, (that's 16-18 year olds), one of whom could drive, so some days I didn't have to do school runs - bliss.
This year they've left so I'm back to going every day. Though Son is 15 and doesn't need me in the supervision sense, 22 miles is a bit far to walk to school on his own. Sigh.
I cannot fully express my joy at having another little molly-coddled infant dumped into our care.
ReplyDeleteSorry to be so negative, but I've seen 15 year olds go into a huge snit because Mummy didn't pack their usual bar of chocolate, let alone not walk them to school.
Tell them to harden up for goodness sake.
Then you will be freed-up for the usual gin-round and strip poker clubs.
TSB - funny thing, last year I caused a bit of a stir by wondering (out loud) whether my then 8 year old was ready to walk to school on his own. Three blocks with a crossing guard to get him across the only road. Got my answer about two weeks later when someone tried to adduct a ten year old! Gulp.
ReplyDeleteI hear you! My two are now picked up by bus (at different times) outside my house - meaning I do not have to get dressed. I still try to 'be dressed by 10'- I will not be one of those mums who goes to the supermarket in slippers and pyjamas. It's a slippery slope from there to hair rollers and a fag stuck in the corner of the mouth!
ReplyDeleteOh I can't wait to lounge around in PJs all day. Only four more years to go...
ReplyDeleteYes, I am wondering how it will go with the 8-year old walking with the 12 year old to school. This morning someone sighted them buying lollipops and skittles at our local store for the walk up the hill. Where did they get the money? Sigh...
ReplyDeleteLollipops & skittles on the way to school. Hilarious. The Little Guy now has a lunch account so he's desperate to buy his own lunch but god knows what that might be.
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