School Days

First day of preschool...but first lets start at the beginning.
My second grader wakes this morning w/specific garments in mind he plans to wear to his second day of second grade. After only a minor modification, he left the house in hiking boots w/long pants as opposed to boots and shorts (never did like that, sorry, and besides it nearly 90 here). Yesterday when I asked for specifics of the day he had only two complaints; one was that his teacher kept telling him to "hush" (no suprise there...he talks non stop) so being the mother of a deaf child who can actually get into that kind of "trouble", I secretly smile while I explain he needs to be a good listener in school and slack off on the talking. His next complaint was the FM mic kept going dead. So I wrote the teacher a note to please let his TOD (teacher of the deaf) know this if it continues to lose its charge after being plugged in all night. Maybe it needs a new battery entirely.
As we pulled into the school parking lot where I was dreading the moment he realized that today began drop offs and no more assistance from Mom, he says "Are you coming in?" Oh no, here we go...my big second grader is gonna break down, cry...I'll have to pull over to reassure him how big he is, or they'll have to pry him from the car; one or the other! I take a deep breath and w/my rapid heartbeat increasing I say "Nope"!! I mentally try to anticipate his next move like a skilled chess player so I can counteract. He shocks me when says "YYYEEEESSSS!!!"
Oh my, that was a hard to pill swallow, where's my "I need my mom" or "But I'm gonna miss you"....I wasn't fully prepared for such outright joy, I was appalled at the blatent rejection of help I didn't intend on offering. I had every intention of assuring him how proud we were of him, how confident we were he could do it on his own, but apparently he doesn't need that...he's already go it.
Now on to Brook:

Lipgloss (check), microphone (check), excitement (check). I love Brook's preschool since this will be our fifth year there! Yes, Gage two years and due to Brook's birthday, this is her third year at the special ed preschool. So they know us well, know all about FMs and CIs so I basically pulled into the parking lot, wished them all good luck (the teachers that is) and slowly walked to my car. I was very careful not to show the little pep I had in my step, someone might think I actually was happy about my two hour time alone....WITH NO CHILDREN (and no dads,a visit to the grocery store alone every now and then doesn't count as "me" time...unless you're desperate...and believe me I have been and gotten by all summer on the once in a while grocery store trips)but now I was actually alone....for two hours! I pulled out of the parking lot, crossed street to a park not visible by the school. I was afraid everyone at the park might smell burnt rubber from my tires pulling out of the school and crossing the highway so quickly, so I parked on the end. Smiling at the other mothers (with their children by their side) I walked at the track while I talked on my phone...without interruption. I then left and went to the library where I checked out books, I may now have time to read. Then, I talked on my phone again and maintained a full 40 min conversation w/my best girlfriend !!
And you know what? When I picked Brook back up, that 30 min non stop chatter was music to my ears...the whole ride home. AAAHHH, refreshing!