It suddenly hit me when I opened the mail just a couple of days ago. I knew it was coming, but the official letter from the preschool along with the class roster, teacher’s name/contact info and supplies list made it all too real. It’s happening….in a matter of weeks.

This back to school season is bittersweet for our family as our eldest is starting school for the first time. The past four years have flown by and as clichéd as it sounds, it truly does seem like yesterday that I was holding her in my arms in the hospital that early summer morning. Nearly 20 hours of labor later and feeling exhausted and weary, I stared into her wrinkly face and was mesmerized by my little baby. And now my “baby” will be starting school! Time, please slow down a little bit. If the next 4 years fly by as quick, she’ll be in middle school, high school and college before I know it!

But despite my emotional rollercoaster, I’m truly very excited for her. I’m excited for her to embark on her school journey, to make new friends and learn new things. I personally loved going to school, the supplies shopping, the smell of new books, new clothes. Yes, I must admit I was a bit of a nerd when it came to all this. But I just loved being a student! So much so that I went all the way to graduate school.

And as I went about the back to school shopping for my little one, the excitement once again enveloped me. This was the start of back to school shopping for her that most likely wouldn’t end until after college! What a special time!! I must have looked really strange to other shoppers because I couldn’t help but smile lost in my own thoughts as I imagined all the future afternoons of homework, helping her study for tests, chaperoning field trips, bake sales, parent-teacher conferences, PTAs…..and to think I’ll be going through this again once my three other kids start school. Wow!

Both my husband and I are getting quite emotional over this. I can’t imagine the morning she starts. The teacher will have to yank her from our overprotective grasps and we will wave goodbye to let her own into her first adventure outside of home.

Do you remember when your first child started school?