Growing Up

Today my big boy started high school.

It is hard to believe that this is the same little boy I held for the first time 13 1/2 years ago.  This sweet baby who needed me to do everything.

hmm this is the youngest I could find, him holding his little sister, the others are all on film!!!!!

So much has changed.

He messaged his friends to walk to school together.  There was no way I was allowed to go up today.  I had to give him his space.  This is something he has to do by himself.  When Hubby and I joked about going up with him, his answer was "That would be SO embarrassing Mum!"

His main concern was whether his best friends will be in his class or not.  We live in a small community and about 90% of his intermediate school head off to the same high school.  He will know plenty of people.

I am finding today almost as hard as the first day of school.  I hope he has had a good day, I hope he found his friends at break time, I hope he doesnt get lost (its a much bigger campus than intermediate), I hope his form teacher is nice, I hope he has friends in his class, I hope he wants to go back tomorrow.

It is hard not being there with him.  Cutting those apron strings all the way through.  I told him he has to walk straight home because I need to know everything about it.  But I guess I'm going to have to get used to him heading off on his own more and more.  The teenage years, although kinda terrifying in some ways, are also so exciting.  There are so many new opportunities for him.  And at the end of the day, I will be here for him whenever he needs me (which better be pretty often :-) )

Good luck my big boy, I hope you had a great day.