Alex's First Day

Alex started his new school on January 6th. He had a tough time, poor little man. He was pretty nervous, not knowing anyone and all. Alex even woke Tony up early to have him give him a blessing . . . isn't it amazing what spiritual strength 5 year olds have these days? We arrived at his class early so that we could talk with his new teacher, who is a very nice lady, and get him to his new seat. He cried and kept yelling "Mom, please don't leave me here!", but I tried my best to put on a confident face, telling him that he would be alright and that I would pick him up again in a little while. Which wasn't really true, since he has full-day Kindergarten again.

As I stepped outside of his classroom, I stood near the door for at least 20 minutes, just to give him time to settle down and to make sure that he wouldn't totally flip out on the teacher and have her call me to come back & get him. I have never (yet) been so grateful that I didn't have any other obligations to tend to. I think I would have been sick to my stomach and cried my eyes out something fierce if I had to immediately leave my little boy there, all alone, in a new, unfamiliar place, without me being able to watch out for him. I felt so grateful to be able to stand next to his little kindergarten door and be there for my baby if he needed me . . . and had I felt it necessary, I could have stood there all day long. My family is my number one priority and I am so grateful to be able to be at their disposal and to be able to take care of them, as they deserve to be taken care of. I'm grateful for a hubby that works hard so that I can stay home and take care of our home and children. I'm thankful that my in-laws taught my hubby how important it is that a mom be able to stay home to take care of their family. I'm thankful to my mom, who had to work 2 and 3 jobs to raise and support my brother and I by herself, who always showed by example that family comes first.

My mom's birthday was on that same day. After Emma and I picked up Alex from school, we went home, did some homework, ate dinner, I baked a cake, and then we drove over to my brother's house. Spending the evening with Ryan and Jess made the day much easier. Alex was very concerned that his Mimi wasn't here to eat some of her birthday cake, he's so genuinely sweet. It's hard to believe that my mom has already been gone for almost 2 years. I still miss her, every day, but as I get older, and gain bits and pieces of wisdom, I am more grateful for all of the lessons that she taught me in her short time here on this earth. Love you, Mom.

1.06.07 - Mom's 46th birthday