Bigger Ones Are Little Too

So Amelie started school today, I didn't get a pic of her in her cute uniform as there were too many tears.

She went to bed late last night (not a good start) and set her alarm early... Now she's an early riser, but not good when you wake her up.... Normally she is out of bed, eaten breakfast and dressed before I even make coffee!

I go in to her room at 6:40am, and she is still asleep.... I say Ams, you need to get up baby! I immediately think uh-oh, because she's not her usual chirpy self (she wakes up chatting a mile a minute, I swear :) )

After about 5 minutes, I can't hear any activity so go in, and she's just sitting there, still in her PJs and bursts into tears when I come in. She starts wailing 'I don't want to go to school!' so I try the 'chin up' strategy first, making jokes... that doesn't work at all.

I say ok, come have breakfast, get dressed after... She comes in and Roddy is there...she starts tearing up again. By now, it's 6:53am and we have to leave by 7:30... I know the more we rush the more stressed she'll feel. BUT, she looks like she can't shake it off so I suggest her and Daddy go for a walk on the beach... Give her a big cuddle before they go.

So off they go, she's all shoulder slumped and pouty mouthed... I make her some toast and OJ, and some mint tea... watching the clock.... they come back at 7:09am, she is smiling a bit, looking happier.

She eats a little, gets dressed, we pack the last of her stuff and then the eyes start welling up again. More hugs... Daddy is taking her to school and as we walk to the car her eyes are full of tears but she is trying to smile... I am leaping around and waving my arms like a crazy person on the drive to try and make her laugh.

They leave a little late, 7:35am, and I've sat here doing a bit of work and I don't know... I feel just like I did when she started school!!! I just sat and imagined her trying to find her way around, and hanging by her locker, and not knowing anyone... and ohmygoodness it gets me...right in the heart. You can't show that to her of course, but man... as soon as she left I was a puddle!

When you have 'littler' ones I think it's easy to forget that your 'bigger' ones are actually still so little, and so new at life and figuring everything out... on top of that, this is such a huge day for Amelie. New country, new routine, new school, new friends, everything *gulp*

Sheesh. I feel like going back to bed now, waaaay too many emotions before 8am.