Don't blink

Well, that was quick.

Tomorrow is Jack's first day of first grade.

We had such a fun and busy summer, and it just flew by.  One thing I learned though is that, as much as he protests that he doesn't like school, Jack actually thrives on structure.  We had a couple weeks in July when he didn't have any camps scheduled.  While it was nice not having to worry about getting anywhere on time, by the end of those three weeks, I could see a serious deterioration in Jack's behavior.  It took about another three weeks of camp before I saw the return of my good, sweet boy.

All told, Jack had seven weeks of camp this summer, and he loved every single one of them.  His favorites were math camp, the surf and skateboard camp, and gymnastics camp.  But he also enjoyed water sports camp, Lego camp, and vacation Bible school.  I told him that we wouldn't be doing the water sports or Lego camps again next year, because they'll only be repeats of what he did this summer.  I already have my eye on a marine science camp for next year.  It's so fun that he's old enough to do these things, and I just love how excited he gets.

There is something so gratifying yet humbling when you see your child do something that you've never done.  I know that's how I felt the first time I saw Jack stand up on a surfboard.

We learned who Jack's teacher and classmates will be for the upcoming year last Friday, and I am pretty pleased about his class.  His school actually moved campuses over the summer.  It will be interesting to see how everyone transitions.  The new campus is closer to our home, and school starts 15 minutes later than it did last year.  Yay!  I don't know that the drive will be much faster, since we'll be taking surface streets the whole way down.  But hopefully we will at least save on gas.

All this week, people have been asking Jack if he is excited for school to start.  He kept saying no.  But today he told me, "Mom, I am getting excited."

I am trying to stay positive for him, but the truth is I'm not excited about it.  At all.  I love having him home, and I hate having to adhere to a schedule and I hate that people who don't love him feel they have any right to tell me what I can and can't do with my child.  Sometimes I think I'm the only parent who feels this way.  But I'm glad that he's excited, and I am crossing my fingers that he has a good year.

At bedtime tonight, I told Jack, "I can't believe you're starting first grade tomorrow."

"Why?" he asked.  "Do you think I'm too young?"

"No," I told him.  "It's just going so fast."