The Bus....

Today, we went to Emma's school and found out who her teacher would be for this year. My Emme will be in FIRST GRADE this year.....she's no longer a 'baby' as she tells me so very often.

She's right. I just choose to ignore her when she tells me.

I had printed off all of her paperwork, filled everything out, written out the check.....but i just couldn't fill out the 'Car or Bus Rider' part of the paperwork.

Since last year, Emma has begged me to please, please, PLLEEAAASSSEEE let her ride the bus. I managed to talk her out of it last year, bribing her with the old "I'll bring you a snack and a drink and have it in the car waiting for you!" if you are a car rider. I also promised her that NEXT year, she could ride the bus.

Yep.

It's NEXT year already.

And i so want to go back on my word and make her a car rider.

We live about 10 minutes from the school, so it's not like she would be on the bus for an hour.

But i want to take her and pick her up....

.....is that the sound of a Helicopter Mama in the background i hear?

Why yes, yes it is.

Emma is six years old.

Six years old.

Isn't that a bit young to ride the school bus without me ?

When we went to meet her new teacher, i knew that she would be asking me that "Car or Bus" question.

The teacher did ask me....and before i could answer, my little daughter pipes us and says: "I am going to be a bus rider this year!"

Yippee.

So, as a sort of compromise, Emma will be a car rider for her first day of school....and after that, she will be a bus rider.

As i read over what i have written, i feel a little silly. My mother PUT let me ride the bus. In fact, there was no option to be a car rider. Looking back, i can understand why she was so happy, waving to me as the bus drove off to school. I survived and did just fine and my Mama got to enjoy some time away from me. In my heart of hearts, i know that Emma will be fine, too. She needs to have some independence from me, her well-meaning helicopter Mama.

Just another part of growing up, you know....

....for me and for Emma