Scenes from My Life: Just the Two of Us

“Ei, Ei,” he says as he tilts his head to side quizzically, and points the seat next to him.

I sigh knowing what will come when I answer him.

“I’m sorry buddy, E is going with daddy. He’s going to kindergarten now.” I say bracing myself for the sad, scrunchy face and the tears.

Immediately they start and I have to give him another Thomas the Train to distract him.

It’s been like this since last Thursday, when E started school.

We’ve taken the man-on-man approach to school drop offs. I take G to toddler school and the hubs takes E to kindergarten. It’s been working great, and I think it’s really helping with E’s separation anxiety, but the little guy is so confused.

He noticed the difference on the first day we drove to school alone, as did I.

The car was quieter {and I’ll admit a little less moody}.

When we approached the door I could barely remember our code, because for the past three years E has punched in the numbers for me. G just kept looking around waiting for his big brother to pop out and surprise him, but nothing.

We made our way to his room, and I took advantage of the fact that I only had to drop of ONE, just one, which means no more tossing him in his classroom and then running to the next one.

Now, I actually get to sit, and talk with his teachers {I finally know their names}, and read him a story in the morning. It’s refreshing and much less stressful way to begin our day.

After school I linger longer.

There’s no more hurrying.

It’s more relaxed.

G gets to play one more minute longer, and it makes him smile.

As we make our way to the car, I still get the same quizzical look, and the “Ei, Ei”. I explain it again, and again there are tears.

As we drive home together just the two of us, I think he’s starting to get it.

We chatter on about buses, cars and doggies, and I smile and he giggles, because now he knows this is our time.

Just ours alone.