Ch.ch.ch.CHANGES -- are so hard sometimes.

That's the way the song goes right?

The way the cookie crumbles?

The way we grow from here!

We're on the horizon of so many big transitions and this one was the beginning of it all. I know that we all have to learn from change, and this is just another tack on Cameron's many experiences, but it doesn't make it any less bittersweet. New schools are hard at any age - believe me, I know all about it!  I know he'll be fine and that we'll adjust and transition in time but the hardest part is saying goodbye to the people that we're leaving behind. 

I know that part of being a dual-working-family (I use that on purpose instead of just saying a working-mom because Tim totally counts in the scenario too) is giving the day-to-day care of your child(ren) to someone else.  It can be so difficult for some, and fairly easy for others (I think I sit in the fairly easy category). I'm not usually the Mom that cries as she leaves the day care, I'm the person that cries watching them accomplish something or catching them in a "growth moment" realizing just how far we've come, but add on a few prego hormones and it goes a bit further.  I've been so lucky and have made friends with the people that have cared for Cameron, from the time he was 6 weeks old really.  The people that we've had in his life have loved him and snuggled him, put up with his OCD and laughed at his drama.  Today was Cameron's last day at his current school before we move him to a new school where Nugget will eventually join him.  The final week at this school we've discussed the list that his teachers wanted to make for his new school to tell them all of the things that he likes and doesn't like, we've received all sorts of pictures and we've tried not to look each other in the eyes or talk about his last day directly. 

Miss Amy said things like, "make sure they know how particular he is" or "he doesn't like cream cheese on his bagel - do they serve bagels?" She wanted me to make sure that his new school did lots of story time and knew that when it comes to sticky textures it takes him a while to get used to them (frosting, paint, etc).

Miss Samantha told me daily that she will still babysit even though she can't be his teacher anymore. She wanted me to know that he gave the best hugs in the class and that she was going to miss dancing with him.

Miss Devon (Cameron's infant teacher) is probably the most upset because she was looking forward to getting another Benton. She'd whisper to Cameron almost daily for the last two weeks, "don't worry Cameron, you'll be back -- I just know it."

It's nice to be loved isn't it?  What's even better is knowing that your child is loved. 

We'll be on another adventure starting a new school Monday and there's all kinds of new butterfly's to prepare for. Even though we've visited, driven by and talked about it for the last month, I'm positive that Cameron will be anxious, nervous and scared since he won't know anyone...but this too shall pass and we'll grow from here. There will be new teachers to love on and new friends to make, however we will always remember the wonderful friends we made and the amazing teachers at the school that started it all and really helped Cameron grow.

It's funny how you can find yourself in situations where you never in a million years expect to connect with someone as much as you do, and then when it's time to say goodbye or to move on your stunned at how much you really do appreciate and like that person.  We sort of stumbled on to this school knowing it would be good, but I never expected to wave goodbye with tears in my eyes.  I promised Tim that Cameron and I would give the new school a month, but it's nice to know that we'll always be welcomed back to this spot because of the awesome relationships we've had with them.

Wish us luck on Monday, it's no crisis - but this prego Mama starts to have a little anxiety every time she thinks about dropping Cameron off at the new school. No matter how many times I tell myself that he'll be fine, that it'll be good for his character, that he'll be happy -- the other "friend" on my shoulder yells out Bu** Sh*t!

Enjoy your weekend!