OK, I'm leaning on the experts who have gone before me. I have done so well with the idea that the kids are going to K this year......until yesterday.

We took the girls to meet their teacher. She's going to be great. I have no concerns in regards to her. But I am having a hard time. I got up this morning crying at 7am....I stupidly let the kids stay all night at my mom's and I just need them today. Or maybe I don't. Maybe I need to get my teariness and emotion out of the way today so I am great for them in the morning.

There is noone here who has gone from full house to empty nest at age 5 (LOL) that I can relate to about this change. I plan on taking the kids to school, getting a quick pic in of them in front of the school, getting them in class and making it home where I'll either clean the house until I'm exhausted or wander from room to room having difficulty getting focused. I've been taking on as many bow orders as I can get and signing up for a couple of shows to prep for, just so I have something I like to do to keep me busy. I have plans to catch up the baby books, get the house back to organize (like it was B.C.--before children) and to get to know my treadmill again.

I'm excited, nervous, sad, grieving, and sometimes just plain mad--lol--I can't help it. One of my dd's is so ready I know she'll be fine, one has medical conditions and she is nervous about someone other than mommy taking care of some 'private' issues for her during the day but otherwise is jumping up and down with excitement, and the last wee one is really having difficulty. She is teary, clingy but trying to be such a big girl and put on a brave face to make me proud. I can just see her turmoil and it bothers me that I can't make it any easier. She's having bad dreams, and she's gone to stacking and sorting things...she gets a bit OCD when anxious.

I can't help but want to throw a tantrum because I have to hand them over to someone one to enjoy (and pull their hair out somedays..lol) and I won't be able to just hear them talking during the day or walk up and get a baby hug whenever I want.

And so help me, if one more person asks me if I'm going to have another baby to fill the void, I'll scream.

I am so proud of how far my girls have come to get to this point. I'm busting at the seams. I am so grateful and happy our hard work paid off and they are on track and ready for the next stage. But I'm just a little lonely for my little women, and a little nervous about not being able to protect them like I did before.

I asked about volunteering at school, but the teacher wants no parents in the class for the first 6 weeks so she can get a good handle on everyone, which I totally understand.

I sure could use a few kind words today...or even some funny stories from the vets who have gone through this to make me feel more 'normal'.

THANKS ahead of time!!!

Melissa

Wife to my best friend
Mom to GGG
05-04

Melissa,

I haven't gone through this yet...I still have 26 days till they start school. I just wanted to say that I understand what you are going through. Everytime I buy them something for school, I have to fight back the tears. I keep asking my husband if I can homeschool just so I don't have to let them go.

You are in my thoughts today.

Dawn

Mom to Samantha, Jeremy, Paige and Christian

Born 12/12/03 @ 31w 2d



http://lovinglifewithquads.blogspot.com

Thanks, Dawn!

Melissa

Wife to my best friend
Mom to GGG
05-04

My kids are also going to K this fall (starts Aug 31), however, we had them in the district preschool 5 days/week starting at age 3.

It will be very weird at first, but after a couple of days, I think you will adjust! Is this an all-day program or the more typical 2.5 hour program (like ours)?

Regarding your one that is having trouble separating. I had one like that also, and he definitely did have difficulty the first day - especially at age 3. I think you will be very pleasantly surprised how well she might adjust after a week or so.

Thinking of you today as they start school.

Also...plan something special for the first day after school that you can look forward to. A trip to the park, maybe, or out for ice cream to celebrate them being big girls. And they can gab with you all about their day.

BBB born 7/26/04 at 35 weeks

Melissa, I am feeling your angst. My trio starts in 12 days. I have such mixed emotions about it. It seems like only yesterday I was getting bottles ready for them. They have come so far from then. How dare someone ask if you will fill the void with another baby.
I do love the idea doing something special with them after school.
Don't forget to do something special for yourself today too.

Please do let us know how it goes,

Andi

Melissa,

Please let us know how it went. Thinking of you.

I didn't have those same feelings with K. It was such a short part of the day (1/2 day) and they had done preschool. Only change for me was K is every day and they rode teh bus, so I had about 1 extra hour in my day.

This year will be my first "empty nest" time. I have a running joke with my friends adn family: "When the kids are in school full-time, I'm going to....". Insert ANYTHING you can think of, because the list is getting longer and longer. My plans are the same as yours, regarding the house, my health, etc. But I'll almost guarantee that I don't make a dent in all those things I can't wait to start. IT'll be October or November before I get used to "all that free time".

Go easy on yourself and allow yourself to meander aimlessly about the house. Have lunch with some girlfriends. Do a little window shopping...leisurely, without having to run back to the front of the store to use the bathroom 3 times in 30 minutes.

We start the 25th....so 11 more days. I think I'm more nervous for my DS, who is moving "upstairs" in the building. That's where the "big kids" classrooms are. He mentioned being a bit nervous. My girls are just plain excited to eat in the lunchroom

MonsterMom6
10 year old ^b^ b twins @ 30w5d (1 survivor) and
8 year old gggg quads @ 32w0d

I felt SO OUT OF PLACE when my trio started school last year. I was not ready for it. I actually ended deciding to have more! LOL! #4 is due on Christmas!

Melissa

I went through this the week before you. It's really a lot tougher than I thought it would be. By now, though, you are going on day 4, and I hope that your week has gone well.

I don't think I experienced this with my older daughter so much. I was teary-eyed over my baby going to school, something I didn't experience this time. But, there is a different kind of loneliness in letting go of an entire "set" of children. You know, you had the shock of learning you were pregnant with triplets; you went through the gestation, the NICU, the apnea monitors, the toddlers (yikes), terrible 2s, horrific 3s, and finally had some pretty personable little people chatting you up constantly... And, suddenly they are running out to the playground.

Silence...

To think, we thought silence would be such a nice thing on some of those horrific 3s days...

Good luck, and let us know how the first week went!

Cat w/3 Kittens
Caidan, Carina and Caeleigh
Born at 31 weeks, 1/8/04.

Wow, last yr I could have wrote this same very post. My girls went to prek, 5day/wk, 9-2, rode the bus the whole nine yards. I went through your anxiety last yr. I was an absolute basket case. I said I was going through empty nest syndrome at age 4 instead of age 18.
I can honestly say that it does get better. My girls are going to k in just 2 short days, all day from 8-3. I haven't got emotional as of yet. I think all my tears were out of me last yr. It is hard to let go when they have been with you every day for last 5 yrs. It is so hard to hear silence for the first time, when you have yearned for it for so long. It does get better. It took me probably 2wks to get over my loss so to speak.

So right now there is no anxiety as of yet. But my girls are not on that bus yet. I will have to let you know. I don't feel like I will cry. My one dd asked me not to cry this yr bc it supposedly was to embassasing for her last yr. Whatever..lol!

I am posting late, I haven't been on TC for a very long time. So if your kids have already started, then I hope that you had a great wk. And if they didn't like I posted early, It does get better I promise.


Nicole
My girls are in kindergarten!
Brynn, Taylor, Shelby
36w, 3/22/04