It’s that time of year again! Parents are parading around with smiles on their faces, a skip in their step and are barely holding back their excitement for their child’s return to school. I know of one parent who will be putting on their dancing shoes for their (first day back to school) ‘Happy Dance’!

I, on the other hand am having a hard time holding back the tears! My wee man, along with approximately 26 other wee people, will be starting (at time of writing) Kindergarten this year at the Elementary School. While he is looking forward to this next chapter and more than excited and raring to go, I am trying to convince myself that this is the next step for him.

Where did the time go? Last I checked, he was a baby, a toddler….. we were potty training! This is supposed to be a happy time, a time when we are supposed to be holding our heads up high, not a time for tears!

I’m not the first Mom to have to introduce her babe into the school environment and I definitely won’t be the last! It is a known fact that our educators are a great team of people, they really and truly care about the futures of our younger population, it’s the team of teachers that I worry for!

I won’t be too quick to jump to any conclusions in regards to my boy’s behaviour, but I do warn, he is a typical boy! I never want to believe that children are bad, they are just in great need of attention and recognition.

It’s been so long since I was in a situation of returning to school that I have almost forgotten the feelings of being nervous, excited, disappointed…. you name it! I miss those years of looking forward to school (mostly to see my friends again) and the spirit days when we would all goof off for a whole week, teachers included! One thing is for sure though, I don’t miss Drama, and I’m not talking about the class!

I guess as parents, we are able to advise our children about the many things to look out for, along with the situations to avoid, but I am learning that they won’t always listen! The best thing we can do, as parents, is step back and let them learn and experience for themselves.

Looking back to all the people who were a part of my school years, the many experiences that I personally had and the people that continued to push me in the right (or left) direction, I wouldn’t change a thing!

I’m sure you will all agree, it’s great to be “edumacated”!