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Last week, I became a Stage One Empty Nester. My boy started “big” school, while my girl entered third grade. My morning nest is empty — still rife with Legos, crayons and waffle crumbs, but devoid of smallish humans.
I’m not sure how I feel about this. “Secretly thrilled” is battling with “deeply sad” in my parental soul.
Helpfully, Dickson Elementary School hosted a “Tea and Tissues” get-together after the first day’s drop-off. The event offered parents the chance to “share a little tea, tissues, and emotional support” as their children started the school year.
Mostly I needed coffee, but I also wanted to take the pulse of parental emotion. My own pulse was alternating between “at rest” and “heart attack.” Here’s what happened when I dropped off my kidlings on the first day.
My boy was relaxed and happy when I left him in his kindergarten classroom. He let me hug him, said goodbye, and sat down to color with great composure. Apparently, this is the same kid who ran daily to the door of his nursery school yelling “Come back, Mommy!” as I raced to my car.
When I took my girl to her third-grade classroom, I tried to hand her teacher the bag of school supplies we’d purchased the previous day.
“In third grade, the students take care of their own supplies,” the teacher said.
I was momentarily stunned. My 8-year-old, who doesn’t toss her dirty clothes into the laundry basket without an act of Congress, was supposed to care for $50 worth of school supplies? My first reaction was to march over to her desk and organize it myself. I took a deep I-am-not-a-controlling-mom breath and watched as my girl threw some pencils in her desk, then dumped the rest of the stuff on the floor.
In an attempt regain my composure, I told my girl she should introduce herself to the boy sitting next to her. Big mistake. She actually growled at me. I realized, once again, that I should never, ever home-school my kids.
I ran for the “Tea and Tissues.” To my surprise, the atmosphere in the media center was more “champagne and confetti.”
One mom said, “Yee-haw. I’m going to Target.”
Another said: “I’m going to go work out. For as long as I want.”
There was no coffee, but there was much scarfing of cinnamon buns and iced tea. A few moms admitted to being nervous, but the box of tissues lay unused on the table as we chatted giddily about our plans for the day. Although lots of dads dropped off kids that morning, I didn’t see any drop by for a Kleenex.
The relaxed atmosphere knocked me back to reality. Heck yeah, I thought, I have six-and-a-half parent-free hours every day for the next nine months. Yee-haw, indeed.
In truth, part of me has waited years for this exact moment. Now I can go to Ingles without dragging my boy behind me as he begs for doughnuts. I can write all morning without interruption — except for the phones, the puppy, e-mail and the cats. I can eat lunch when other people do, instead of asking people to meet me at 11:30 because I must be at North Asheville Preschool by 1 p.m.
This doesn’t mean that the other parents and I didn’t spend much of that first day or the days that follow thinking about our kids, wondering how their day was going and how they were feeling and if they were making new friends. And it doesn’t mean we all won’t be begging our kids for details of their days every night at dinner.
But thanks, Dickson moms, for the reminder that it’s OK to celebrate, out loud even, the transition of letting kids go and enjoying some time for ourselves. Next fall I’ll bring the sparkling apple juice and the noisemakers. I might even wear a party dress.
— Anne Fitten Glenn is a freelance writer and photographer in Asheville. She’s been blogging about a number of topics, including parenthood, for almost three years at www.edgymama.com.
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great column! does this mean you’ll be showing up here regularly now? |
ash Aug 20, 2007 |
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OH I might have used the poor tissues…I was so freaked by this transition that I now have a six week old kitten. HA! You are right, I must focus on the 6. free. hours. Unprecedented! |
Joshilyn Aug 20, 2007 |
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I hope so, Ash! Thanks for reading! |
 Aug 20, 2007 at |
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Great column! Enjoy your independence. Those days are so far in my past that I grabbed the kleenex you left behind and had myself a good cry. You can let em go but reeling them back in is not so easy! |
Woze Aug 20, 2007 |
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My youngest is in second grade but this is the first year I felt like celebrating. Perhaps its because I have a paying job now that i have to tend to. Thanks for sharing. Can’t wait to see another column. |
Restless Aug 20, 2007 |
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Let the games begin!!! |
Libby Aug 20, 2007 |
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The more we get to read of you the better. |
Gordon Smith Aug 20, 2007 |
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I think I need a kitten, Joss. Oh wait, I have a puppy. Thanks for the support, girls. Here’s to smooth beginnings! |
Aug 20, 2007 at |
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Two more years until my son hits 1st grade and I’m already counting down the days with an equal dosage of trepidation and elation! Good luck with the column EM! Maybe we’ll be seeing you around these parts more often. |
Winter Aug 20, 2007 |
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Anne Fitten, This was indeed a treat to read today after battling several Kindergartners who “want their mommys”. Thanks for the love. We love your kids! |
Alida Woods Aug 20, 2007 |
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Just so you know, she’s doing a great job keeping track of those school supplies! :) |
J. Emry Aug 20, 2007 |
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Great article Anne Fitten. The days seem so much longer now that they begin at 6am. i feel like I am in school all over again. |
caroline Aug 20, 2007 |
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Thanks for a tender and heart felt article that many of us can relate to. Well done, EM! |
 Aug 20, 2007 at |
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School starts Thursday here. Lucy starts first grade. Like we did last year we will drop her off and then go out for breakfast. It’s a celebration and an excuse to wander into work a little late. |
catnap40 Aug 21, 2007 |
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Once those kids hit the bus, your sex life might improve as well :)
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Orbit DVD Aug 21, 2007 |
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great article, EM! i look forward to reading more of your writing! |
Weaverville Woman Aug 21, 2007 |
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Great to have edging up the Mtn Express!! Keep the columns coming. |
Aug 21, 2007 |
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Great post. Hope to hear more. |
 Aug 22, 2007 at |
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If you like this blog, sound off! We’re giving “Edgy Mama” a test run here at Xpress, and the more we hear from readers, the more likely it is that we’ll do whatever we can to keep her around. |
 Aug 22, 2007 at |
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Yes, please keep Edgy’s columns coming! Take care, |
Aug 22, 2007 |
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::I realized, once again, that Amen to that. This is a big reason our oldest is in 4th grade at school as opposed to home school. We tried homeschooling for a year while we were making our slow move to Asheville. Quickly, her propensity for burrowing down at home manifested itself. She needs school. No offense to the home-schoolers - but for us the benefits of going to school far outweighed the purported benefits of home school. And who couldn’t use a little alone time anyways? ;-) DM |
Aug 22, 2007 at |
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Yowza, Steve! Eighteen comments isn’t enough sounding off? Okay, many of them are EM readers, who already adore me, but I’m not seeing many other MtX blog posts with so many positive comments. Jus’ saying… |
Aug 22, 2007 at |
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While I am employed by Xpress, know EM AND have a kid at Dickson, I do not think I am disqualified from being the 19th commentator to support more EM! Not all Xpress readers (web or print) are kidless hipsters closing the bars nightly…ok, so SOMETIMES we do. Either way, this blog (and maybe print??) column is a keeper. Thanks! |
Aug 22, 2007 |
