First week of school!

My three angels!!

   It's Friday!! We made it through our first week of school. I am of course claiming this before the end of the school day today so I may need to retract this statement later. lol! Anyhow, it has been challenging and it has been emotional, but overall I would say it has been successful.
   Zach and Emily seem to be sliding right into the groove of the new school year. Emily a little bit better than last year even. They seem pleased with their schedules and teachers. Zach has earned 1st string quarterback position on the JV football team! Emily has already been invited to her first birthday party of the year, and I have finally been put to use at school volunteering almost every day. I love feeling close to my kids all day at school just by being present there with them helping their teachers. Nathan has a great teacher this year that has been so welcoming and so loving that I have very high hopes for a great year for him this year as well.
   It was a tough few days building up to school. Getting the kids back on better sleep schedules, making sure they had everything they needed for a successful year, and helping Nathan over come his fears of going back to school.
   Nathan always struggles more than the rest. It has been a good week so far with very few meltdowns. I am hoping the more he learns the routines in the classroom and the personalities of his classmates he will begin to relax. Change is hard for him, so I have been so proud of how well he has been doing. It helps that he has such a loving and kind teacher. She is strict, but the key is that she is balanced and has a genuine desire to see him succeed. Her classroom is scheduled and routine and those are two things that Nathan will appreciate immensely. I am grateful God has paired Nathan with such a wonderful teacher. I am also grateful that I am able to work in his classroom so much as a helper because I think it has made the transition back a little bit easier.
   Each year around this time I struggle to let loose of my babies again and return them to school. I want to keep them with me forever. I know it is good practice for later in life when they will leave to start their lives, but never the less, it remains as hard today as it did when each one of them started kindergarten. Call me obsessed, call me crazy, but I LOVE my kids.
   So, for now, I'll nurse my breaking heart as I muster up the "good mommy" in me to put on a happy face and cheer my three babies on as they start a new great year in school.

My sweetheart!

   It really is a shame that I'm too old to drop to the ground kicking, screaming, and crying to get what I want!