26 August 2009

Post-graduate education for preschoolers

Today, instead of writing some wandering rant or sarcastic childish commentary, or just transcribing my kids' strange conversations, I need to sort through a little something here.

Please indulge me while I wrap my head around the fact that I just packed some kid's lunch. For school. Where he'll be all day today, like a real person.

He'll even get there on a bus, by himself, and though he may look as ridiculous with his color-coded nametag, backpack sticker, and strange visor as I did with the grotesque cowboy totebag my mom made my brothers and I carry (but not my sister, years later...), he will have reached the point at which the bounty of day-to-day memories in my own life began, 23 years ago.*

I'm starting to think that, despite all the evidence my spotty memory and helpful cloud of denial can provide, my girlfriend and I just might be parents. Of actual children. And I'm pretty sure I'm getting some flashes that there was a wedding in there somewhere, too.**

This means we may not in fact be college dorm roommates who got matched up with a couple of unbelievably needy, dependent midgets by the university housing authority. Someone will soon be coming into our apartment, holding us accountable for our shamefully disorganized, impromptu lifestyle, emboldened by third-party education outside the cult walls.

As well he should. It's about time someone did.

Good luck, kid.



* What this means for me, I'm not sure, but it doesn't really matter. I just don't want to screw this up for him.

** Coming up on six years ago, I'm told.

13 comments:

Sally HP said...

Congrats on the first day of school! I completely agree with the dawning realization. That's one of the scary parts of having kids...you have a constant reality check that you can't possibly be 21anymore...

Melisa Wells said...

I loved this post. Happy First Day of School!

Ron said...

after seeing 5 kids on their first day of kindergarten I can tell you that feeling happens every time you see the next one off. It's kinda cool and kinda scary.

Mama Dawg said...

Finally, someone's gonna hold you nitwits responsible!

And he's just the kid to do it.

Anonymous said...

I'm a grownup, too. It's nice to meet you.

unmitigated me said...

The only thing missing to make this identical to my daughter's first day of school is the happy dance I did all the way home after dropping her off!

Bookworm said...

Congratulations! You're parents! :))

I am at the total opposite end. We finally are empty nesters. Yayyy!!

Now we can go back to acting like the goofy, irresponsible people we really are! LOL

Mrs. B. Roth said...

I'm about ready for all day Kindergarten for crazy Mr. #2 .... but he's only three.

Good luck all of you.

Jud said...

I recall with fondness I had a Kung Fu metal lunchbox in first grade, somewhere back in '75 or so. I was the shizzle.

Kori said...

Wow; you mean she isn't a virgin anymore? Best of luck through the day; you will need it, maybe not today, but in the next 12 years....

Michael from dadcation.com said...

That's why we're planning to join a cult in 2 years--so that this event never occurs in our family.

Trooper Thorn said...

They should let college roommates adopt. That would make a good reality TV show.

A Free Man said...

Good luck indeed.

And good luck to Dad as well.