TheBanyanTree: Starting School

[Sharon Mack]

Julie...

That was so sweet.  So much like my youngest son, Patrick. You reminded me
of the poem I wrote for him and his first day going to school.  I had a hard
time finding it at first.  I had forgotten the title.  He is now 26.  This
is a true story!


LITTLE MAN

He sat there
like a little man.
Back straight
Face somber
Thinking
Silent
Hands folded in his lap,
Bear bag on his back.

I pulled the car
to the large double doors
and asked him
if he wanted me to walk him
to his class
not wanting to let him go
alone.

No, he said.
No, I know where to go,
and his little hands grasped
the door handle
and out he went
walking small,
walking tall.
Suddenly he stopped
and turned
coming back to me
before I could pull the door shut.

He set his elbows 
upon the seat,
settling his face in his hands
and said to me,
Just think, Mom,
when I'm done,
I'll be able
to read!"



Quoting NancyIee at aol.com:

> When the last
> child  leaves for kindergarten, there are no more babies, and every day,
the
> children  move further away, finding new friends, secrets they don't
> always tell you, as a  little child will, and have hopes and experiences
you
> are no longer an intimate  part of.

One of the first days of first grade, my son Andy got off the bus, 
carrying his little lunch box and back pack, looking just a bit 
overwhelmed still.  I noticed that he had on a pair of my socks. I 
asked him, "Why did you wear my socks?"  He said, "Because when I wear 
your socks, I feel closer to you while I'm at school."

He's still sweet like that, and he'll be 18 next month.

Julie