Empty Nest-ing
Lawrence started preschool this week. All day, five days a week. This is what I’ve been waiting for, right? I can go back to work full-time. I can talk to grownups. I’ll have time to put on makeup in the morning and actually attend to grooming like plucking my eyebrows and flossing my teeth. I can go to the drugstore without anticipating a huge argument over not buying him a Hot Wheels car. I can hear myself think.
But every morning, a couple of hours after we drop him off, I want to drive to the school and see him. I know that he’s enjoying himself and probably would be somewhat annoyed to see me, or afraid I was there to take him home.
The head of his school, Fran, told me last week that of course there would be a period of adjustment. I know she meant for Lawrence, but I guess it’s really more for me.
I guess Lawrence is feeling kind of ambivalent after all. This morning he was buckled into the car seat and I was waving bye-bye (George was taking him). All of a sudden he started sobbing and unbuckled himself. I said, “Honey, what’s the matter?” and he said, “Hug and kiss! Hug and kiss!” holding out his arms. So I guess I’m not getting replaced by Rosalinda (his teacher) just yet. But it’s really, really quiet.
Well, one woman definitely knows how I feel.