SEPTEMBER 2001-
THE “FIRST” FIRST DAY – TATE STARTS PRE K, PHOEBE STARTS NURSERY AND COOPER…WELL COOPERS GETS LEFT BEHIND…BUT NOT FOR LONG!
OH MY. IT GOES TO FAST!! I look at this photo and I can remember IT like it was yesterday. Tate was starting kindergarten and he was allowed to bring one “lovie” and he chose his little beanie baby leopard. Or was it a cheetah? Later that year Tate would stop wearing that shirt, his favorite Firetruck shirt because someone said it was a “baby shirt”. I got all worked up. I think I even emailed the teacher. Live and learn. Come to find out, boys love to tease about clothes, (“Are those your sister’s shoes dude?) and usually no harm is meant. And there is my sweet Phoebe, who got her braces removed today, temporarily removing her pacifier for the photo…There are no words to describe how Cooper’s face, as he watches his support system leave for school makes me feel…trust me, I can relate.
…….a few years later…Tate started first grade…. Phoebe started kindregarten. She her lovie AND her beloved blankie. My children, with their Italian Genes, are always so bronze and sun-kissed on the first day of school. Only I, his Mommy, would know that Tate’s face in this photo, this grimace, is the one he wears when he is terrified. This is also the look he had when they took him away to surgery to fix his broken nose. Same face…bigger boy…
ONE YEAR later, Phoebe had her big day. She started the first grade and followed in her big brother’s footsteps. I can remember picking out her little plaid dress and debating over the socks, which had kitties on them, “Should I spend the money?” . These things seem to silly now. And Tate, minus a grimace…. pleased as punch to be the big guy…this was Coopers FIRST day of Pre-pre K, they call it ALL “Kindergarten” at their old school…and for the first time, all three of my children would be under one roof…for their school days.
On Cooper’s first day of First Grade, MY emotions ran the gamut…here my baby was starting First grade, a momentous occasion, but one mile away, my Mom was beginning what would be the last month of her life.Talk about a time of change. Still I cant help but smile, at big man on campus Tate, the 5th grader, and Cooper’s proud face, as finally he got to wear a tie, which was a “festival” tradition at the Waldorf school we attended for 8 years. And of course Phoebe, with her adorable short haircut…it suited her personality…they kept me afloat.
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Change is hard. That is a truth. But Life IS CHANGE. Every single day is new, and an opportunity to change anything you want…or nothing at all, and sometimes, like trying to stop the waves from crashing, your attempts to stop change, are futile. And yet, with change comes the NEW, all the new…things smell sweet again…
So we start a new school year…
……….and we look forward toward the multitude of possibilities, so many moments ….right at our fingertips…and we will decide…one thing , on day at a time….what will we Change today? Somedays, changing your socks may be all you can muster…and other days…
…..We move mountains….
Love the photos and seeing the progression. My baby goes off to college tomorrow! I am approaching empty nester hood with mixed feelings. Some wistful nostalgia and some “yesss!”
Oh Lori, I know it must be so hard and yet amazing to see your baby fly! You can always come here when you need to be surrounded by friends who know! xo
Darling darling children! You have every right to be so proud.
Fun to see their pictures of first day like that!
Thanks Laurie…I do so love them!