Letting Go...

This is Amelia, and Monday my daughter released her back into the brush between our house and the neighbor's. S checked on her repeatedly this week, and while there's been no sign of her, she's no longer cooped up in a cage, frantically looking for the escape route. Amelia was rescued from our cat, and spent the first several days in her cage, burrowing under the ceder chips, hiding inside the kleenex box, and finally learning how to drink from the water bottle. She grew more active once the proper food was purchased, but now it was time to let her go. I know she's happier, and so does S.

And speaking of letting go, this is my brand new kindergartener, eager to be on his way to the new school!

And here he is, waiting to be taken to his new classroom.

After his tour, he came back, kissed me enthusiastically, and said he liked his teacher. He high-fived me and went back to stand in line.

Whew!

Flashback twelve years: K, thrilled within fifteen minutes of entering the classroom:

"Mom! Mom! I made a friend!"

"Good for you! What's his name?"

"I don't know...what's your name? ('Austin') Mommy, this is Austin and he's my BEST FRIEND!"

But when it came time for me to leave, he clung to me and had to be practically pried off of me. And two hours later, when I returned to pick him up, K flew down the stairs and into the car, bubbling over with excitement over everything they had done that first day.

I'm sooooo glad the tearful goodbye wasn't repeated today!

Let the party begin! All my kids are in school!