Not quite five years ago, in October 2006, I sat at this computer with tears in my eyes, a lump in my throat and an ache in my heart, and wrote about the Bomber's first day at daycare. As I hoped, it eventually did become easier and less painful. And somewhere along the way, it became something else - those people who held my baby when I couldn't, who helped him walk and talk, who taught him songs and numbers and colors and how to write his name and read a book - those people became our family. The other kids he spent his day with became his brothers and sisters, and their parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles became our community.
And so today I find myself back at this computer, with tears in my eyes, a lump in my throat and an ache in my heart, writing about the Bomber's last day with this family, this community of people who have helped raised him and cared for him and loved him. Oh, he'll be back there on Monday for summer camp, but it won't be the same. Just like on that day in October 2006, after today, nothing will ever be the same again. And just like that day in October, I know this is good - for him and for me - but it is so incredibly hard to say goodbye to the people who have shared our lives for the last five years.
So I'm not going to say goodbye. I'm just going to say thank you - thank you to all the caregivers and teachers and members of our community who helped shape his life and mine into what it is today. We'll miss you all, and we'll carry you in our hearts always.
What a great picture of the Bomber. He is so handsome and grown up. :)
Posted by: Susan MacDuffee | June 02, 2011 at 12:52 PM
This is a wonderful tribute. I went through similar emotions when my kids started kindergarten. Bomber looks too cute!
Posted by: Medha | June 02, 2011 at 11:07 PM