First Day of School

I guess our Kindergarten didn't get the memo about school starting last week, because Wednesday was the first day of school for the twins. . . . .WOOOO HOOOOO (did you hear fever pitch in my voice?)!!! After reading many friends' accounts of their children's first day, I am pretty sure I might be the only mom who is thrilled to send her children on.

I think I'd be lying if I said that I was mostly excited for them to go to school so they could experience the world around them and progress in life. Though this is partly true, I think most of my excitement comes from the fact that my kids will be doing these things on someone else's time-- yeah, that's right, I'm excited to have a few hours in the morning free of, "I'm bored,","Davis hit me,","Can I start a project," and the all time-favorite, "Can I play Wii?" I'm feeling the guilt about this reality because a group of ladies I overheard were waxing nostalgic about how sad they were that their little ones wouldn't be under their constant tutelage. . . . . Does this mean I am a slacker?

Before I am judged too harshly I would like to add that I do love being a mom!! I never knew how rewarding it would be, and I was actually a little afraid of how I would feel. . . .I didn't quite understand why parents got so gushy about things like a first tooth, their child walking around the kitchen island and playing peek-a-boo, or the first day of Kindergarten. I found it a little nauseating how, while sitting with a group of moms, the conversation always drifted towards their children's antics and/or misdeeds. I secretly wondered if I was cut out for motherhood.

After much thought, I realize what it is that makes all these milestones so special. As a mom, you literally nourish this life inside of you for 9 months-- without you, the life would die. People talk about falling in love like it is a magical thing that just, poof!, happens. But I think love is an actions word, which, at the core, is all about giving. The act of service towards someone else is what love is all about. Why do we fall in love? Because we serve another human beings needs. Nourishing this baby for months and months, with no expectations of receiving anything in return is what makes you love the child. You love them because you serve them, and they need you.

And so the baby is born and you do everything for them. . . . you literally spend all day, every day with them. They are so helpless-- again, they NEED you. Then, suddenly, one day they smile, or roll over, or walk, or talk, or dress themselves, or ride a bike, or sing. These milestones are developmental, so from a global perspective, they are nothing remarkable. We expect these things from humans! But, as a mother you've watched this child go from doing absolutely nothing on their own (except pooping, there's always poop), to doing these amazing things. You get to watch first-hand, on an individual basis how amazing the human race really is. This is a bond in service/love that can not be broken. Parenthood truly is a miracle. My empathy for people in general has increased-- I'm beginning to understand what a blessing each individual on earth truly is. My experience in learning to love unconditionally has grown. So, in the end, I guess it is our kid's who really are the ones that are serving us.

Here's the kids on our block that are starting school with Davis and Eliza: