My Life in Pictures: I Barely Even Cried Today!

A huge accomplishment considering the colossal meltdown I had last night as I was preparing for my babies to begin their first day of pre school. Just ask my mother-in-law. She happened to stop by mid-tragedy to find me crying into my husband's t shirt (as he continued to watch "American Pickers" or some other History/Discovery Channel favorite of his). And while they both tried to comfort me (even though I think they were laughing at me too) I have come to the conclusion that the first day of school is just so much harder on the Mama.

Now, I know that the kids are going to love school. And I know that they are going to be well cared for. And learn lots. And make friends. And all of the things that everyone tells me. I know all that. I AM A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER!! If there is one thing that I could tell you after 9 first days of school it is that most of the time the kids are fine, it's the mamas that struggle. And now I know why. It's not that we're worried about them being taken care of or making friends. It's that just yesterday they were our babies and so panic sets in that tomorrow they will be heading off to their first day of high school.

A couple weeks ago, the kids got a postcard in the mail from their teacher, welcoming them to preschool. As I started to read it to the kids I began to tear up (I cry A LOT, so no big surprise) and before I got through the first sentence I was choking on sobs as I tried to get the words out. It wasn't that I was so upset about preschool, it was just that for some reason all I could imagine was that I was reading their college acceptance letters! Ridiculous, I know but I just can't believe three and a half years have flown by so fast and I feel like if I blink I may miss something important.

Despite my tears I am excited for them to start school. I can't wait to see all of the new things they learn and hear about what they are like when I'm not around. And I am very excited for them to make some new friends. That will be fun. And necessary. (I spent most of the summer trying to explaining to them that I didn't think they would be able to marry each other. A confusing conversation that went something like this. ABBY: "I'm going to marry Ben when I'm big." ME: "No, you can't marry someone you are related to." ABBY: "But you married Daddy." ME: "Good point but we weren't related until we got married. I didn't even know Daddy until I was 14. You probably don't know the person you are going to marry yet." ABBY: "Oh. Maybe I'll meet my husband in pre school.") I also am proud of how hard they work and how much they know and I am excited for them to be able to put that to work at school.

So, this morning, after last night's disaster, I was armed with tons of Kleenex as I helped them hang up their backpacks this morning. And surprisingly, I didn't even need them! The morning started out great as they came downstairs to find the cake we had made for them. "Thank you Mommy and Daddy!!" And then they got to eat some for breakfast.

After that (they did eat waffles too) they got dressed in their new school clothes, got some nectarines for their teachers (we had no apples and they insisted they needed to take some fruit) and even kind of cooperated with my photo shoot!