A Big Milestone and a Small Milestone
Today was Vintage Girl’s last day at the child care center she’s gone to for almost five years. She started when she was barely three, in their preschool program. Then last year she “graduated” to Big Kids, their after-school program, when she started kindergarten. We love this place; it has become a part of all of our lives, and I’ll miss it. But it was time to move on.
photo by snowing indoors
The other little milestone reached is that we’re phasing out all the plastic cups, bowls and plates Vintage Girl has used over the years. It’s funny, one day I just realized that she didn’t need plastic stuff anymore. As she keeps telling me: “Mom, I’ve never broken any dishes in my life!” Yes, I know. But I have many fond memories of meals shared with little friends using our cheerful plastic plates with teddy bears, penguins, Dora, and Hello Kitty smiling up at us.
I always take these transitions hard, and I assume it’s because I’m both a sentimental person, and the mother of an only child. I don’t know how I would feel if she were my second, third, fourth, etc. child leaving her beloved child care, or moving into grown-up plates and glasses. I just know that I’ve been feeling a little blue, realizing that every day takes her closer to growing up for real.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Hi Ann: I once read that when something in our life changes it’s as if a little piece of us dies. The good news is that you’re reborn into a different phase.
January 5th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
I just kept the little plastic bowls and plates and we use then for snacks.
And I hear ya, this from the woman who still has each and every tiny little spoon I fed my baby with and he is now EIGHT YEARS OLD…
January 5th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Marelisa: Just like kids go through phases, and we moms have to keep pace.
Laura: I finally ditched the spoons, but believe me I have plenty of other stuff I can’t part with (yet).
Vintage Mommys last blog post..A Big Milestone and a Small Milestone
January 6th, 2009 at 12:32 am
OK, this had me cracking up because it is so like me!
True confessions time: I *still* have a few plastic cups and bowls from when my son is little . . . and he still uses them on & off. And, he’s 19!!
I actually talked with him about this when he was home from school over Thanksgiving, and told him I’ll probably always have them around — even when he’s a Dad himself, and then his children can use them. LOL We were laughing about it, but I just can’t bear to part with all of them.
Nice to “visit” with you again here. Hope the holidays were fun, fun, fun!
Linda Abbits last blog post..TLeC Readers: I Am Listening to You
January 6th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Such a sweet post…enjoy the littleness while you can!
January 6th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
@Linda: my time to confess. I just couldn’t part with the Hello Kitty bowls or the chic plastic glasses I paid too much for! You reminded me that my friend who has a 19-yr-old and a 16-yr-old still has a good supply of plastic plates and cups . . . her kids still use them!
@Liz: I’m trying hard to hang on to whatever semblance of littleness is left . . . sigh.
Vintage Mommys last blog post..A Big Milestone and a Small Milestone