Monday, August 23, 2010

Time Trick

I have a 2nd grader.

:-(

People, this is not possible. I am clearly far too young to have a child in 2nd grade. Moms of 2nd graders are experienced moms and real live grown-ups. They are older/oldish and their kids are really big. Not like me. I just had that kid!! Like, not that long ago. I clearly remember when he was 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and that just wasn't that long ago. Not 3+ years ago.

This means that in 3 more years, I'll have a freaking 5th grader!! See how wrong that is?

I tried to convince him to stay in bed and snuggle with me forever, pretty sure that we could pause time that way. He didn't want to, though. He wanted to start 2nd grade. He was excited and hardly even nervous; he had no idea that as I was buttoning his shirt, I was having thoughts of hiding us both in the hall closet until this whole 2nd grade thing passed.

Mr. Ashley took him to school and called me all teary-eyed afterward, both of us trying to figure out how we became parents of a 2nd grader so quickly. Somehow my baby turned into a handsome, confident big boy and I'm not even sure exactly when or how it happened.

Sigh.

As Big Kid would say, it happened "because life goes." That's the part of life I like the least, though.

What can you do?

(No, really. I'm asking.)

Stay tuned for "How in the hell did my little baby get in pre-k and why won't he wear what I tell him?" later today. Pre-k starts at 12:30.

17 comments:

Heidi said...

I soooo hear you! My oldest "baby" starts 3rd grade on Wednesday. I feel exactly like you, trying to stop time, or at least slow it down some. My youngest starts Kindergarten and that feels even worse. I've tried to savor and hold onto every moment of this summer, but it is already essentially over.

Being a stay at home mom to my two girls has been the greatest joy of my life, and the best job I've ever had. It is going to be a big change to have them both gone ALL day long. I'm happy for them, but so sad for me. If I had my way, I would have frozen time forever and just stayed a mom of a toddler and a baby.

Theresa said...

All I want to know is do we look as old as our parents did when we were in 2nd grade? Ugh.

Jennifer said...

I am taking Baby Girl to Kindergarten orientation in just a few more minutes. I'm barely holding it together.

Anonymous said...

I can totally sympathize. My oldest is going to be in 6th grade this year! REALLY old people have middle schoolers. Break out the cane and bed pan!

I also have a 2nd grader this year. She is elated to go back to school. I'm actually quite thrilled because they are all getting on my nerves. Just think of all the free time you'll have. You can watch tv, eat donuts, drink Starbucks and all the other things that moms stereotypically do. Fun!

Tara said...

*sigh* This year was a big year for me. My baby started COLLEGE. Seriously...COLLEGE. I swear to all the is Holy she is still a baby...how can she be old enough to be in college?? How can *I* be old enough to have a child in college??

Then, to break my heart just a little more...my youngest started Kindergarten. And he misses me so much! He said that he goes in the bathroom to cry for me a couple times a day :-(

Unknown said...

COLLEGE?? When did they start letting babies into college? Say it isn't so. I really can't bear the thought of that. Your crying kindergartner makes me want to cry. :-(

Heidi, I can relate to mourning the loss of this summer--it was amazing. Anonymous, I can relate to wanting coffee and donuts and peace and quiet, too. It is very bittersweet. In about a week, I'll probably be all "Hell yeah, this is the life!!" on my 3 free hours a day.

Theresa--we can't look that old. Right?? Right?!?

Good luck, Jennifer :-(

Anonymous said...

Thanks Ashley, Since my twins go to high school this year, I feel REALLY young about now. LOL. Kerry

Drew's Mom said...

I feel like you just wrote about MY LIFE..my BABY starts 2nd grade in a couple weeks and I feel the same way. Babies do not belong in 2nd grade... and young ladies like us can't possibly be the mothers of 2nd graders. Hope the boys have a great day!!

jenn said...

Yeah, I hear you. I've got an eighth grader this year, and I remember my own eighth grade year WAY too clearly to already have a child that age. Not to mention that I strongly suspect I've become A Woman Of A Certain Age, and no one sent me a damn memo or anything.

Anonymous said...

I don't know what to tell you. My oldest will be in 8th grade in 2.5 weeks. Only 5 more years and he'll be off to college. I can't even think about it, it makes me so sad...

Joy said...

ugh mine started 3rd grade this year and it is freaking me out, he is officially one of the big kids at his school as he is on the big kids side of school and it's in the big cafeteria.

And to think Abby starts Kindergarten next year I am freaking

Anonymous said...

COMPLETELY unrelated but I had to share this with you. Have you let Reggie go swimming?

http://icanhascheezburger.com/2010/08/23/funny-pictures-video-the-swimming-hedgehog

AnastasiaBeaverhousen said...

Good luck to BK in 2nd grade! And big hugs to his mommy, I so know how you feel. Sometimes I look in the rearview mirror and get startled at the big girl face staring back at me. She's starting 3rd grade, which might as well be college :(

SuddenlySouthernCyndi said...

Well, my baby just turned 4 and it's killing me. But that's not all; GET THIS: next year he will start K and his older brother/my first baby will start college. Yes, this is my life of ridiculousness (and no more babies, *sniffle*)

bugs mom said...

AAAHHHH!!!!! Mine started 2nd grade yesterday, too! At parent/teacher orientation the other night, one boy tried to kiss her, and another gave her a note asking her to marry him and a hair clip he made her, complete with a chocolate smudge (at least, I hope it was chocolate). This sent my husband and I completely over the edge. Last night one of the girls from her class called her. This is all happening way too fast for me, too! I totally feel your pain, Ashley!

Tara said...

I felt like I should update about my crying kindergartner...finally, after 3 weeks of school, he has come home telling me he had a GREAT day and that he didn't cry!! SUCH a relief! Yay!

We need an update on lk's first day of Pre-K!!

Unknown said...

That's great news, Tara! Big Kid and little kid both almost started crying yesterday when they realized there would be no school over the weekend. They LOVE school. Every day as I get little kid ready, he either thanks me for finding him a school or tells me that I'm a good mumum for getting him to school. So sweet.