Dear Jack on your (preschool) graduation day,
I can already picture
your 18 year old self proclaiming, “But mooooooooom. It’s just preschool – it’s
not a big deal.” Then why, my sweet boy, can I not pull into the preschool
parking lot during this last week of school without dissolving into a puddle of
tears?
Maybe it’s because you are my first born – the one we wanted
so badly and waited so patiently for.
But plenty of moms will be sitting there during the last show watching
their first born children “graduate” from preschool without gasping for air
between bouts of ugly cries. So why, oh why, is this so very hard for me?
You see, you and I got to this place by taking a different
path. Your first year of life was not
typical and it made me fiercely protective of you. There was a moment where we didn’t even know
if you’d be able to attend “regular” school with “regular” kids. I’ve spent the last five years eyeing down
strangers in Target who looked like they were going to say something or
ignoring the conversation with the mom next to me at the playground because
that kid following you around might do/say something about your glasses. I was/am the Mama Bear of Mama Bears.
You were safely guarded at preschool, and I fell in love
with the teachers who were as fiercely protective of you as I am. Being at that school was like being with
family, and it was more than easy to send you off every day. And now you’re leaving. The bubble I’ve created and kept sacred for
five years is now expanding to include things like school buses and cafeterias,
and much older kids…and a place I cannot protect you. For 8 hours a day, I will
not know if you’re ok, if you’re happy or being teased. Your teachers won’t be as easily reached, and
I can’t call the front office just to check in if you’re having a bad day. It scares me to death.
Sooner or later, you
just have to let your kids go and hope you brought ‘em up right.
I’m not letting go, trust me, I never will. But I suppose I’ll have to loosen the reigns
a bit. I love you to the moon and back,
kiddo, and this Mama Bear will never let go.
Love,
Mommy
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| become this so quickly??? |
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| How does this..... |
What beautiful photos! :)
ReplyDeleteHello I read your story 1 month ago, and i was so surprised that my story is like your's.I have a girl,she had also congenital cataract in both eyes.She also had surgery in both eyes,one eye in 3rd month,and another in 4th month.Now she is 6 month.I see that my child see me,she looks at toys,keep them.But she focus her eyes difficultly,she wears glasses +12.Can you tell me please Jack's first spectacle number and where did he have surgery? And also please hospital's and doctor's name? if you want I can contact with you on email.Thank you
ReplyDeleteYour son is adorable:) I am happy that he can see. Our grandson was born on oct 4th, we could see white in his left eye so we went to the eye dr on Friday and they informed us that he has a cataract in one eye. My question for you is, knowing what you know now if Jack only had cataract in one eye would you still have the surgery? They say he is blind in that eye and needs surgery in three weeks when he will be 6 weeks old.
ReplyDeleteI am Mark en I did read your blog with growing interest. Cause I'm also born with cataract and till I was 16 years old the prescription of my glasses was plus 20. I recognise the stares of people also when I was a little boy. When I was 16 I got contacts en I did,nt have problems with hem till a few months ago. Now I wear again glasses with a prescription of plus 26. Very thick glasses and verig big eyes. I hate it and much emotions from when I was a little boy came back. Implantcontacts are not possible, so I have no choice. How is it going with Jack now. I also write a weblog, cause it's difficult for me to talk about everything that happens. It's www.cataract.simplesite.com Buth I am dutch and I don't know if you can read it.
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