All The Things I Can’t Teach Him

I’ve avoided thinking about it since we made the decision last week. But I just can’t avoid it any longer — my baby boy starts preschool tomorrow.

For weeks now I’ve seen the Back-to-School posts about supplies, and shopping, and tips, and tricks. I’ve watched my friends freak out about the upcoming school year, and read posts about things to say to your children before their first day. All the while thinking I still had years before any of that applied to me.

But last week, I was offered a full-time job that I just couldn’t turn down. I’ll still get to work from home, but I’ll need to allocate significantly more hours each day to work. So The Nerd and I decided to enroll Andrew in a preschool program three days a week.

We decided to go with a local Montessori school that has a great reputation. I met Andrew’s teacher, got all the paperwork filled out and the tuition paid, and he starts school tomorrow.

My baby boy starts school tomorrow.

I am not worried in the least little bit about him adjusting to school. I’m sure he will give the teacher a run for her money, and he probably won’t even miss me while he’s gone.

But I sure will miss him.

In a world where tragedies like Columbine and Newtown are a reality, how do you have the courage to let go of your baby and send them off into the care of others each day?

That is the question I’ve been asking myself the last week.

The answer is quite simple: There are so many things that I can’t teach him — he has to experience them for himself.

Compassion for others that can only come through a bond with classmates his own age.
Acceptance of those who come from different cultures and backgrounds by knowing and caring for them.
Understanding that you don’t always have to be the best at everything — it’s ok to fail.
Knowledge that there is so much more to see and experience than what is familiar.
Life is beautiful and messy but worth it!

So I will send him off into the world knowing that there are people like Suzanne Haley and Victoria Soto who will guide my son as he discovers the world around him.

He will make friends and laugh and cry and have a life beyond our home.

And it will be good.