Kindergarten and the Super Soaker

I should be packing Madan's lunch right now. Tomorrow, is the first day of school for the next billion years of his life. But, I'm delaying the PB&jam-fest because I want to remember a specific moment we had at bedtime tonight. That way, 12 years from now, when I'm cussing him out for letting his buddies throw half-empty beer cans in my bathtub and all over my yard, I can visit this blog, read this post and make peace rather than whip out the rolling pin my mom gave me (for other reasons, of course) and chase his ass around the house before giving up and throwing it at him.

Madan has been incredibly jacked for the big K. So much so, that I wonder if he's happy to be a big kid or happy to be getting away from me big time. He'll never tell. But, sometimes actions speak louder than words. We had an incredibly tender moment tonight. Mike read Madan a bedtime book. It was the story of Scamp, a mutt of a dog who marches to a different tune, never does anything right, but saves the day to the benefit of his well-behaved brothers and sisters. I get Scamp. He's a little rough around the edges and doesn't look like the other dogs, but has an incredibly big heart.

As Mike finished the story, we hugged our Doobie and got ready for the routine. Madan usually pulls the covers over his head, yells at us to stop calling his stuffed dog "Banjo" (it's not his name) and reminds us to "turn the hallway light on" before we bid him adieu for the night.

But, today, it was different. First off, we didn't taunt "Banjo." (Madan's not the only one growing up.) Then, we gave Madan the biggest hugs we could. When it was my turn, I planned to give Madan a tighter squeeze and hang on just a little longer. It was the last time I'd hold my kid pre-K and I wanted the moment to last forever. But, instead of hearing, "LET GO, MOM!", Madan hung onto me, not letting go, laughing hysterically because he knew it was so unexpected -- plus, he threw a few zerberts in for good measure.

I have no idea what tomorrow will bring as he boards the big yellow bus. Will he turn around or won't he? It doesn't matter. Either way, there's no looking back, just forward to a bright future.

So Madan, if you're reading this many years from now. Tell your friends to clean up the party before I get home and remember how incredibly proud you make us. You're only a month shy of six, but you've already turned into a sensitive little gentleman and are everything a mother could hope for and more.

P.S. As I type this serious post, your Dad keeps interrupting from the other room. The guy who invented the Super Soaker is on TV. Evidently, he made over $1 billion with the invention. So much for school.


You've come a long way, baby!