He's mine.
That is Handsome in all his big boy glory.
Since the first day of school I was adamindt that I was going to drive my kids. I wanted to be "that mom". Always there, involved, doing homework, baking cookies, leaving surprises on their car seats for them to find, notes in the lunchbox, pancakes made into letter, blah blah blah.
Here we are at the 5 week mark and over the past couple of week Handsome has asked if he was taking the bus. He is the ONLY kindergartner in town out of over 70 that is picked up and dropped off. I always said if he really wanted to take the bus, I wouldn't hold him back. Everyday, all the other kids get on the bus and Handsome, Goddess and I walk to my car with a chorus of "Bye, Handsome, bye, bye, Handsome...." behind us. Cuuuutteee!
This morning I spoke to him about the bus again and he said, yes, then he said no.
After I put him on line this morning I walked over and asked the only bus driver I know (by face and association only, "Ava's Mom") if she was the bus for my route. She is! Awesome. So I headed over to him and said, "That is Ava's Mom who drives your bus." He said, "yeah".
This afternoon I didn't sign him out and when he walked out of school I said, "do you want to take the bus?"
He said, "no".
I said, "Ava's mommy drives your bus, do you want to take it?
He said, "no, I don't want to.
(one last time) "Ok, you don't want to take it?"
He said, "Yes, I do. Can you come with me?"
I said, "No but look all your friends are going on. Do you want to take the bus? I will follow you."
He said, "yes" and walked on.
The driver and I exchanged nods and thumbs up.
She gave me the universal sign for hold on, I did.
I saw his friend Leo getting on the bus, and I said, "Leo, Handsome's on the bus."
Goddess and I walked to the car, my mind racing and Goddess whining that she really, really, really wanted to go on the bus.
I got behind the bus and followed until they veered off a side street for drop offs while I took the direct route home.
Most days we are home by 3:40. The bus came at 4:08 and we were home by 4:11. A little less time home but if this is something he wants, this is the best year to do it. There are only Kindergartners on this bus and he and Leo are the last stop. Handsome gets off and Leo two streets later.
He came off the bus like a big boy and I told the bus driver it would only be in the return trip and that I would still drive in the morning. We would have to be at the bus stop too early. School is long enough!
I will continue to show up at the school for the next two weeks and see if he wants to ride. It is in his hands. After the two weeks I will drop off and let him take the bus if this is something he wants to do.
Oh my aching heart but I know this is something I have to do. It is only a bus ride. He is not heading off to college and I can let him grow, spread his wings and spend some time with his friends before coming back into the safe nest of his home.
Spread your wings my son but don't try to fly too far from the nest, you have plenty of time and Mommy just might clip them.
ReeRee you are right if you're like me and I think you are this is the best grade to do it in. You know I how I feel about the bus situation but if they want to try and we see that Handsome does why not. Prince loves it and who are we to not give in on this one??? They have a great group of buddies to have fun with and chat for a bit before getting home and getting back into another routine. I like to think of it as there time. There hang time, there it's about comparing notes on the classroom action. In flat they have a good time. So let the wheels go round and round.
ReplyDeleteLove you
Oh you poor thing... You are such a strong woman! Handsome will do so wonderfully on the bus because you let him make his own decision and you stood behind him, and let him know you were there for him. What a great think that it is only Kindergartners on the bus, so it is safe for him. This gives you a little more time for just you and Goddess to bond, that is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteI know we talked about it already, but you did the right thing. you know you are a very protective and good mom. You are a good mom for many reasons. In this particular case you made the right choice and you let him do what he felt he wanted to do. That's what a good mom does. You still protected him and made sure over and over again but you let him go when he wanted too. Bravo to you!!! BTW, I loved the ending sentence, "Spread your wings my son but don't try to fly too far from the nest, you have plenty of time and Mommy just might clip them." GREAT AND VERY WELL SPOKEN!!
ReplyDeleteSheress, He totally does love the bus. It was a great move for him and it was on his own time. He loves waving to the kids who are getting off the bus.
ReplyDeleteLorie, Thanks so much. He is doing awesome and totally LOVES it.
Lauri, Awww thanks...he is my little man and I want him to be free and I will let a little of his free leash go every couple of months. This is it for now.