We kicked off another school year this morning, and with a 1st, 3rd and 5th grader, I am officially one of those moms who can’t stop saying, “Where does time go?!”

Seriously, I feel like it was just yesterday when I was sending my son off to 2-a-Week-Two’s–pretty much glorified day care–and today he’s gliding into school refusing our daily kiss on the cheek because, well, it’s apparently tragically uncool to admit to loving your mom when you’re a fifth grader. 😂

While he did great at dropoff, my daughters got a little teary. This isn’t unusual for us.

A Different Perspective: When Kids Cry at School Dropoff

It used to really give me anxiety. A combination of me feeling bad that they were sad. A wish that I could wave a magic wand and make them feel better. Also, to just overall wanting them, as every parent does, to feel good.

But today when the tears came, I did something I have never done before–I cried, too. Not in front of them (that’s the last thing I need is to make them feel worse! lol), but when I got them all settled with their teachers.

And then I collected myself, got home, and decided it was time for a different perspective. Instead of asking, “It stinks that they’re so upset,” I am now trying to remind myself, “It’s so great that I have a child who’s sensitive and not scared to show her feelings.”

I think of all the beautiful ways that this gift will show up in their lives.

Maybe they’ll be the ones who, rather than holding in their feelings, can share them with friends or future partners so that person always knows where they stand. Also, maybe as a result they’ll feel heard, feel seen, and not feel scared to ask for what they want. Maybe it means they’ll be the kids sensitive enough to offer a shoulder to cry on when others are upset, because they’ve been there too.

It’s a new school year for them, but also a new beginning of sorts for me. And I’m taking this new perspective into this year, with a grateful heart.

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