It’s happening. My first child has started kindergarten, thus beginning the end of my/our influence over him until he enters adulthood or maybe parenthood, and he starts listening to us again. I know this is the pattern because it’s what I did, as do many if not most American kids. He might still like us when he’s a teenager if we’re lucky, but our importance in his life is beginning its descent. 

Maybe that sounds melodramatic, but: a. that’s kind of my style, b. I’ve been around high schoolers long enough to know it’s the truth, and c. I remember this happening to me as a teenager. I love my parents. I still loved them when I was in high school. I just only selectively listened to them, and that was mainly in adulthood, especially once I became a parent myself. 

You might be saying, “Alright, Laura, cool your jets – he started kindergarten this week, not high school.” And I respond to your dismissive tone by saying, ok fine, but this is the beginning. He already sometimes comes home and tells me something that is absolutely false, like that some kid has a real-life submarine in his backyard or something, and I’ll say, I think that kid is telling you a story, buddy, and he’ll say, “No, Mom! He does!” And if I press him about it, my kindergarten gentleman will get angry at me for arguing with him about it. My influence is waning. 

There are obviously WAY more positives than negatives to my child going to kindergarten as he reaches school age: new friends, experiences, knowledge and opportunities; more free time for me, which might mean more writing time again; ease of scheduling workouts and figuring out my work schedule, etc. These first couple of days though, I’m a little sad. Change is hard.

Now don’t even get me started about the little one also starting daycare this week. There is a lot of new stuff going on in our house, and part of me wants to skip the next 2 months and wake up to sweater weather and leaf-raking. We’ll be working on new routines over the next few weeks. See you in 5 sinus infections.