Back to school.
Tomorrow, the kids head back to school.
I am a mixed bag of relief, dread, happiness and sadness. I am relieved that they'll be heading back because they need the structure. Happy to see them so excited to go. Sad at how quickly time is going. Dread because of the state of the world.
My oldest will be in first grade. My youngest starting PreK.
This will be their first year together where they'll both be in school until mid-afternoon, and the house will be the quietest it's been in a long time.
I hope their first bus ride together goes smoothly.
I hope they make some new friends.
I hope they love their new teachers.
I hope they bring home all sorts of new stories.
I hope they get enough to eat.
I hope I'm not a mess of tears at the bus stop.
I hope I can let go, if just for a few hours.