finally his turn

Today was another big milestone for this Mumma ... for the first time I drove away from school with an empty row of seats behind me! Today Felix started Preschool, just 2 mornings a week, and was he ever so very, incredibly, over the moon excited to go! I found a rocketship backpack to match his brothers and he wore that for a good hour on Saturday, taking it on and off, clicking his snack box open and closed and pretending to drink from his water bottle. All the while talking non stop about his new backpack, oh, thank you Mum, how he was going to Preeeschool and didn't you know that babies don't have backpacks, only big boys. And that Henny and Wahter went to lots of Preeeeschools, now it was Fee-yix's turn. Oh yes, he was ready! This morning it was that excitement doubled and he aged about 2 years in my eyes as he talked clearly to me and the boys about everything. Walter spent the drive to school describing things in the classroom that would be especially awesome and Felix was obviously impressed. He's been going into that room for drop-offs and pick-ups since he was 1, all the while wanting so badly to stay and play. It's been the same teachers this whole time as well and you should have seen how sincerely excited and thrilled they were when Felix walked in ... that's one of my best memories from today. Felix waited patiently for the kids to clear so I could get a picture of him hanging up his backpack in his cubby (shared by a little girl friend from church who lives just a block away) and then he said "Can I go?" ... and he was off. Making a beeline for those toys he had to keep his hands off for two very long years. One last kiss and then I was gone. Driving away with my quiet, empty car ... stopping in to Starbucks ... and then home for a mundane few regular hours by myself. It's not as life changing as when he'll start all day Kindergarten but it is the beginning of change. And suddenly those 18 months til he does start Kindergarten feels very very small. Yet for today, we're celebrating Felix's first day at Preschool, I'm so proud of him!