My Life's Journey: Celebrating the end and start of an extraordinary school year

First day of school Wed, Sep 3, 2014
Lauren - 2nd grade
Elizabeth - Kindergarten

Every year when I get the tuition bill for Buckley Country Day School, I take about five minutes to ponder all the things I can buy for that money. I can buy myself a couple of new Rolexes...every year. I can finance a vacation house in Montauk. Our family can fly first class to Korea - twice. But then I quickly realize that I would much rather spend my money on the girls' education and give them the special opportunity to spend the majority of their day at a school like Buckley. The girls just started their new school year this past Wednesday and they both raved about their first week.  Lauren said to me he night before 2nd grade as I tucked her in, "I cannot wait for school to start mommy! I love to learn!" When I asked her if school was great each day this week, she responded, "No." After a pause and a smirk, she shouted, "It was the best day of my life. It was spectacular!" Elizabeth shared the same level of enthusiasm. She also said she had a spectacular day with her teachers and friends.

Every year is special, but this year was particularly special. I made the decision that the girls would take the bus TO school. Up until now, we drove the girls to school because there was no bus for Elizabeth thru Pre-K. (Lauren took the bus home starting in Kindergarten.)  Since Lauren was in Nursery, essentially the past four years, Tae and/or I drove the girls to school in the morning and walked them to class. Driving them to school and camp was just a part of our daily routines.

Wednesday September 3rd was the first day of the 2014/2015 school year. I didn't make a big deal about taking the bus in the morning, but the few times I mentioned it, both Lauren and Elizabeth responded, "we know mom," and they really seemed okay about it.  The bus company sent us a postcard informing us they would arrive at approximately 7:48 a.m., so by that time, we put on our shoes and waited at the driveway. I of course took crazy amounts of pictures and the nervous excitement I felt the evening before was increasing. Before we knew it, the bus turned the corner by our mailbox and flashed its lights. This moment was finally here!! Thankfully, Lauren and Elizabeth saw familiar faces - the Marrale children (and Chatham neighbors) Isabella, Michael and Olivia (Lauren's classmate). The bus stopped in front of our driveway and the girls went on like professionals. They sat down, waved good-bye and were off. As the bus turned the corner by our mailbox, this time going in the opposite direction, I started to bawl. I mean hysterical crying and sobbing...so intense that Tae asked, "Are you crying or laughing?"

My tears came out of no where and they were completely unexpected. Why was I crying? After I had a moment to debrief, I concluded that they were a mixture of tears of joy (I am so proud of them and they were incredibly brave), bitter-sweetness (didn't I just give birth to these babies yesterday? No, it was 5 and 7 years ago.) and I guess a bit of the girls growing their independence from us. From me. They literally no longer need us to drive them to school. They don't need us to pick them up. They are growing up, and it was emotional for me. I don't know why, but the Tae told the girls that evening that "mommy cried" when they got on the school bus. They all teased me a little bit and the next morning, Elizabeth said to me in her silly way, "Mommy, don't cry again." I didn't.

I am so proud of you Lauren and Elizabeth, Elizabeth and Lauren. I hope you remember now and throughout your life that there is absolutely nothing you can't do. Dream BIG girls. Mommy and daddy will always love you.