Today is my birthday. It’s not a big round number or anything. I am <cough, cough>. Last year, which actually was a round number, passed without much reaction on my part. Last year was supposed to be a big deal, but just wasn’t.
But this year … well, at least, as of now, while I’m writing this post, I’m feeling a little melancholy. So far, I’ve had lots of wonderful celebrations (nice presents, dinner with friends, etc.) but still, when I sit and think about it, I’m a bit sad. Maybe it’s because today is the first day of school here in Texas and my daughter is starting the second grade. So I’m struck not just be how old I’m getting, but how old she’s getting. How did this happen? How is she in the second grade? It feels like she just started Kinder! Frankly, it makes me want to cry.
I know my blue feeling will pass. Soon we will get into a routine and I won’t have to think about it, much less mourn how quickly the years are passing. But for now, I’m very sad.
Wow … this post is turning into a real downer. Which isn’t at all what I intended. I know, in the end, that my sweet girl loves school and is so excited to be going back. That’s what’s important.
What about you? What’s your favorite part of going back to school?
Also, let’s celebrate my birthday with a fun present! I’ll give one person a goodie bag with some of the books I got in Anaheim.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Emily!
I LOVED school, I couldn’t wait for summer to be over and September to roll around to go back to school, see my friends again, get the new school books and buy all the new notebooks, pencils and stuff
I loved choosing the wrapping paper my mom would wrap my books and notebooks in and that whole atmosphere of preparationa nd anticipation was great 
Of course when November rolled around I missed summer: the freedom and the warmth lol 
Hope you had a great day celebrating!!
Oh, I used to love wrapping my books! I totally forgot about that! I loved school too when I was a kid. So much anticipation, ya know?
Happy Birthday to you! Up until an hour and twenty-two minutes ago, it was my birthday here, so we’re practically birthday sisters (I didn’t have any real sisters growing up, so I glom onto all sorts of sisters these days). Six days ago I drove my firstborn child 400 miles away so she could start her new life at college, and I’m still sort of in shock. I barely noticed my birthday this year. I think birthdays are a perfect time to be a little melancholy, all the while I’m remembering how blessed I really am. Here’s hoping you move through the blue mood soon. Having a second-grader to love is such a sweet gift!
We are practically sisters! I do have a sister, but I still collect them. It’s the prerogative of all women.
This year, I know a lot of people who are sending kids off to college and I think that’s part of why I’m feeling blue. I know that will be here in no time!
Happy Birthday, Emily! Round number or not, it’s a day to celebrate.
I used to LOVE heading back to school. The new clothes my mom would sew, picking out a lunchbox (until it was no longer cool and paper bags took their place), the anticipation of a new teacher and new class. I miss that!
Oh, lunch boxes! Yes, that was so exciting!
And today I’m celebrating by taking the afternoon off to watch Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Happy birthday, Emily! I wish you a lot of fun, love and laughter!
Thanks!
Happy Birthday to you. I know how you feel, my son also started Second Grade this year. This is their second full week of school and I still get a little sad when I see my baby get on that big yellow school bus. They do grow really fast and I’m thankful to GOD that I’m having this little bit of time to enjoy him still being small.
It’s funny isn’t it, how excited they are, when we feel sad?
Just so you guys don’t think I’m a super clingy mother, just last week, I was so ready for school to start that I thought I’d strangle one of both of my kids before school started.
But now that she’s actually going …
Happy Birthday! My 9 year old (Wait… How did that happen?) lives in CA with her father while I live in TX. It’s very hard to be so far from her, but we do talk on the phone and I see her as often as possible. My favorite part of school starting is hearing from her all the things she is learning. It’s almost as if I am learning them all over again. During the school year, every time I talk to her, I ask her to tell me one thing she has learned that week. Sometimes it’s some thing so simple and other times I have to sit and think about it. Honestly, sometimes I have to google it!
Oh, Patti, I can’t imagine how hard it must be to be away from your daughter. I’m sure you cherish every moment you are with her.
I always loved the start of a new year because I would get to reconnect with my friends! Happy birthday to you!
You know Cate, in some ways, it’s the same for parents … during the summer, we move so much time with our kids, we don’t get to see our friends much. When school starts, we get to have lunch with our friends. I hadn’t thought of that before.
Happy birthday, Emily! Honestly, I am so, so happy Baby Galen is almost 3 (except so far 3 is not looking to be any better, and possibly worse than 2). I think I’m one of those weird moms who likes seeing their baby grow up. Am I alone? I feel so guilty being happy mine is getting older when other moms mourn the loss of infanthood.
I miss the days when Savannah (9 years old) was a tiny little bundle. But I can honestly say I enjoy the time I have with her now even more. At 9, she can carry on a conversation with me. When she was little I used to read to her all the time. Now, she reads her books to me. You are not alone!
This will be my first time doing the whole traditional back-to-school thing with one of my kids–kid #1 is homeschooled, 3 & 4 are too young (#3 misses kindergarten cut-off date by two weeks–everyone give a good primal aaargh with me), and #2 went from homeschooling to p.s. last Jan.
Homeschooling or not, the thing I both love and hate most about this time of year is re-establishing a routine. We all get more sleep, and I get more done! But I will also miss summer days like today, where all the kids are still sleeping at 8:45 and I get to sit with my coffee and read blogs!
Happy birthday, Emily!
Yes, the routine of the school year is so nice. I love summers, with their endless lazy days, but I also love the routine of school. Things just run more smoothly.
Happy Birthday To You!!!!! My children are all adults now, so no back to school stuff for me. For some reason I never have a problem with my birthday and the getting older thing. I will be 50 in Sept. I guess that is one of the big ones. lol. I get to spend a lot of time with my grandchildren and that makes me feel young in some ways and very old in other ways. I don’t know how women who have their children late in life handle it. I am so very tired after a day with them. I hope you have an amazing birthday!
Ah, yes … I’m one of those older parents. I didn’t have my oldest until I was 34. Not super old, but still. I joke that if I’d known how much fun it was going to be, I’d have started when I was 18 and I could have grandkids by now.
Hope your birthday is a very special one! My children are all grown but I have grandchildren in school. I used to tease my kids on the first day of school by going into their rooms to wake them up and singing the old song, “School Days.” They hated it and I grinned evilly!
It sounds like you are a great mom, Connie!
Happy, happy birthday!
Thanks, Molly!
Happy Birthday! Hope your morning was nice, even if it was quiet. To me, quiet sounds like an amazing gift!!! I sent my 9yo old daughter of to 3rd grade this morning, and I have to say I was fairly stunned by the quiet, even with the 4yo boy around for one more day. 9yo girls talk a lot
For me, though, the first day of school feels like slipping into a pair of old, well-worn shoes. Life settles back into a routine, friendships are renewed, and the promise of cooler air is just around the corner. I totally owe my editor a proposal. I’m hoping now I can gather my thoughts into something coherent and find brilliance in the quiet.
Have a wonderful day!!!
You said that beautifully, Ellie! (I know, I know. Professional writer. Of course you said it beautifully. )
Yes, one as opposed to two is *so* much quieter. I did enjoy that.
BTW, Emily…your post wasn’t a downer at all
Emily, Happy Belated Birthday. I feel your sadness. Next week my two boys go back to school. I just said to them today, “how could you be going into the 4th grade and the 1st grade already?” It isn’t possible!! I worry that they will have someone in their class that they can connect with and that their first impression of their teachers will be a good one because it sets the tone for the rest of the year. But it is quite true that once that first day is behind us I will feel like I am on a roller coaster with all the activities and scheduling in and outside of school.
Awesome!
Hope all is well.
xoxo
The Clarences
http://www.theclarences.com
Hi Emily, and HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I know very well the sad feeling of how quickly our kids are getting older. My oldest just started pre-K today (a year early, but still), and while I didn’t cry because I was happy for this new experience in her life, I was sad because I know I may not have treasured the previous moments as I should have.
As for my favorite part of going back to school, it had to be the back-to-school shopping. =) Still is–with SuperGirl this time, of course. =)
Happy Birthday!
xoxo
The Clarences
http://www.theclarences.com
happy belated birthday emily. came accros this post and it reminded me of my last birthday. and yes it was a round number so you can imagine my melancholic mood when all my best laid plans got trumped up. tried consoling myself with laying plans for a mega party next year (yea right) but this nagging feeling kept reminding me “oh thats how the years run by. so this is just to encourage us all to make the best out of time spent with our kids cos daily their wings stretch out and before you say JACK they’ve flown away.
by the way my best school memory was sharing my food in school just to make friends (LOL) as i also have no sister..
cheers