Big man on the little campus

Just minutes before you awoke for your big day, I stole a glance or two - perhaps a snapshot or twelve - of you, still asleep and cozy and seemingly small. I resisted the urge to climb in your firetruck bed with you, to wake you and stare at you and ask you what happened to the baby version of you.

Instead, you sprung from your bed EXCITED! OVERJOYED! SUPER IMPORTANT! knowing today is your day to be big man on little kid campus where you will rule the pretend bus and miniature picnic tables and woodchip-filled playgrounds of preschool.

Like every other special occasion you raced to the front door to see if Grandma had left you donuts and balloons. Of course she never lets you down and there they were, a dozen donuts and a bouquet of balloons bigger than you commemorating your First Day.

As I made your lunch and packed your Super Heroes backpack I listened to you dress and talk to yourself, repeating over and over, "Lookin' goooood." Your confidence both scares me and makes me proud and it's no wonder the kids gravitate toward you on the playground.

You let me take your picture, even telling me how to do it "right" and I both laugh and cry a little because you're so stinkin' funny but... I'm lost on where the time went. Here you are, blond-ish and brown-eyed when you were born - just born? - with jet black hair and crisp blue eyes. You're no longer a baby.

You're a endearing mix of stubborn and kind, raucous and lovable, with a sense of entitlement that will someday have you ruling the world. You already rule ours.

As you step out into the big bad world of playground politics today, part of me wants to be there to protect you but mostly? I know you can handle anything that comes your way.

Whatever you do, T, today, tomorrow, years from now... make your mark. Be heard. Be loud. Be strong. Be you.

I lingered on the playground until the bell rang this morning, wanting to be there to watch you go in; to say good-bye and offer a "you can do it" hug.

But instead? You marched right into line, gave me a sideways glance to let me know that a hug from me would totally cramp your style, and then, only after seeing that I could really use a little "you can do it" love, hesitantly offered up a fist bump.

Love you Big T.
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Interview with Big T on his 1st Day of School

Big T's 1st Day of Pre-K from Undomestic Diva on Vimeo.

Comments

[Sarahndipitea]

<3 ... I'm mostly w/o words ... just <3

[Cindy]

Dammit you made me cry. My big man starts preschool on Wednesday. Yay and crying at the same time.

[Carmen Reyes Wolfe]

omg you made me cry! congrats little man! he is such a beautiful boy.

[twitter.com/noringsattached]

LOVE this post ♥

beautiful photographs and heartfelt writing--you always know how to knock it out of the park and tug at our heart strings :)

[Jess]

Damnit woman! I was counting on you to give me the secret to "Stopping The Dudes From Growing Up".

I love this post and my handy box of tissues.

[andifoo]

*SNIFFLE*

Nope, I'm not cryin'. Allergies.

Seriously, when did this happen? Mine started pre-k last week and I swear I just gave birth to her like a month ago. I never truly grasped the concept of time and how fast it actually zooms by until I became a mother. Yikes.

[Jamie]

Great Post. Loved it. I *might* have teared up a little.

Have fun at school little man.

[Heather]

Dang it how they grow up!

[jeff (taylor900)]

Ok geez nice job choking me up. Beautiful.

[Kristi]

Damn beautiful, all of it. Thanks for the post. <3

[Lisa]

You are -killing- me with the feet. New shoes + new socks = first day of school. Why oh why oh why didn't I ever take pictures of my kids shoes?

[Kellee]

So cute. Congratulations to him. And SO CUTE gradma treats. :)

[DawnA]

That boy is too cute! And they do grow up WAY too fast. My "baby" is 21 and I still get choked up remembering how I felt on his first day of school. How sweet that Grandma helps make the day special.

[claudia w]

I can't stop thinking about all the great memories you are making for your boys. The videos you do are going to be priceless later when you can pull them out and blackmail the boys with them!

[Jennifer]

Little Big Guy! Yay! And the fist bump? Total heart flutter =)

[Tamara in TX]

Awww. How is he that old already?!?

[Grumble Girl]

Man. That kid rocks. And his kicks? Badass...