Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes…

So we’ve got a new look here at the old blog. Not too drastic, but updated. I’m not finished tinkering, so things might change again soon. See if you can catch them as they happen. And let me know what you think of it. Did anything break? It feels a little more cramped than the last theme, so I’m probably going to work on that next.

Anyway, to celebrate the new look, I’ll tell you a story of change.

My 5-year old just started kindergarten a couple of days ago. She loves it. She’s only going in the afternoons, so we (and by “we” I mean my wife) have to drop her off after lunch. The bus brings her home. She’s extremely excited about the whole thing. I don’t think she notices that it’s an adjustment for everyone else, too.

My wife is hit the hardest. She’s been able to set her own schedule, mostly, for the last 5 years. Now she has to get our daughter to school within a 5 minute window. They don’t open the doors until 12:42, and you’re considered late at 12:47. That’s a pretty short window, especially with so many parents dropping off the kids at once. And then she has to remember to be at the bus stop a few hours later. Being on someone else’s schedule is a pretty big adjustment for my wife – and that’s just the logistical adjustment.

She also has to deal with separation issues and letting go, which isn’t easy either. She’s doing a good job, though. She didn’t lose it that I know of… at least until that stupid commercial came on with the mother talking about how she couldn’t be there for her school-age daughter anymore and blah, blah, blah, and buy our product so you feel better. That broke her. That’s some heartless marketing department, right there.

My other daughter, the 4-year-old, has been lamenting for months that her sister gets to go to school. The reality is that this is really the first time they’ve been apart for an extended period, so it’s understandable that it’s a bit tough on her. She’s beginning to realize, though, that it’s pretty cool to have Mom’s undivided attention for a few hours in the afternoon.

On the whole, it’s a pretty exciting time. We’re entering a whole new world of friendships, activities, schedules, and fundraising. And that can be stressful. But ultimately it’s good. It means our daughters are growing up and learning to be a little more independent.

I hate that.

But I also love it.

Off to the first day of school

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