Freakin' Out

"I'm starting to get a little freaked out," Marcus said as we drove home from meeting his teacher the day before his first day of school. Let's be honest, I was freaking out a little bit too at the thought of sending my kid to an unfamiliar school with zero familiar faces. But I didn't tell him that. Instead I reassured him, telling him he'd make a bunch of new friends and I'd be thinking about him every second while he was away.

And that's the truth. I stood at the crowded bus stop in the pouring rain and watched the bus drive away with my little boy as I swallowed a huge lump in my throat, ignored the big knot of nerves in my stomach and went home to what felt like an empty house.

I kept glancing at my watch throughout the morning, wondering what Marcus was doing, hoping (and praying) he was having fun. Finally I couldn't take it anymore and announced we were going on an adventure. I needed something to help pass the time until Marcus got home.

But eventually he did get home and luckily he was the first one off the bus because I was ready to jump on that bus and drag him off myself. He ran straight into my arms with a big grin on his face and I can't tell you how relieved I was. We walked home hand in hand as he told me about his day and I wondered how much longer until he'd be too cool to hold my hand.

Now that will be a sad day, but I'll try not to freak out.