Alex is now in his third week of 1st grade.  It is a new school for him so he is adjusting to there being so many kids around and being one of the smaller kids. (Wow! There really is a big difference between a 6th grader and a 1st grader!)

Each morning when we drop him off he gets a little teary and doesn’t want to let go.  He has a hard time walking into the class room because it is all so new and overwhelming and he doesn’t have his niche yet.

In the afternoons I pick him up two days a week and then he takes the bus to the school that he went to for pre school and kindergarten because they offer after school care.  I was feeling bad about not being able to pick him up every day and that I was falling short as a parent.  And then I walked in to pick him up at the other school … Alex was visibly more relaxed, laughing, playing and having a great time with his friends there.  It turns out that I think it’s actually better that he goes there a few days a week.  It’s where he feels comfortable and even though he is the big brother and likes to act like it doesn’t matter ~ he likes being where his brother Ryan is.

So I took a deep breath and realized that it does in fact take a village to raise a child and that while I can’t be there all the time, it is okay.  In fact it might even be better.

Posted in Work and Life Balance

4 Comments

  1. Kirin on September 27, 2010 at 3:08 pm

    You are a GREAT parent Nicole! And my son is in 1st grade too. They really do look so little next to the big kids.

    Love your perspective. Keep up the great posts!

    Warmly,

    Kirin

    Reply
  2. Nicole Mangina on September 27, 2010 at 3:21 pm

    Thanks so much Kirin.

    I hope that your son is enjoying 1st grade. Such a big adventure:)

    Reply
  3. Laurie Dennis on October 21, 2010 at 7:30 am

    Nicole,
    What a great blog! Having a 14 & 11 year old, I always get that “guilty Mom” complex every fall when they go back to school. I do know that I am a better Mom because I do work. More importantly, I believe that my boys are more independent (a great trait to have) since they haven’t always been able to have Mom “handle it”. It is so hard to let go; but knowing that they are making their own choices (hopefully good ones) is a great gift to give your kids.

    Reply
    • Nicole Mangina on October 21, 2010 at 7:43 am

      I hear you Laurie and I firmly agree. Our boys ARE better because we work. I have learned so much for our Nannie’s and the pre school that they have gone to that I would not have known otherwise.

      I just smother them with hugs and kisses at the end of the day which always seems to help. 🙂

      Nicole

      Reply

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