End of the Week, Beginning of English and Fear

This morning as I rushed to get ready for my first English 101 class, Braydon announced that he was not going to school today. Shocked, I stopped and picked him, then asked why. "I'm scared to leave you and I will cry at school today!" What? My fearless student has started to miss me when I'm not around. Touched and startled by the sudden change of heart I simply reminded him of the fun he's had and how nice the teachers and other children are. He was unconvinced, but got ready anyway. A million thoughts raced through my head. That teacher who sounds a little less than compassionate - was she too stern with him? The boy that accidentally kicked Bray when he was in front of his swing - was he actually a bully? The girl who had to hold his hand on the snow cone trip - Bray thought they were friends, but was she mean to him?

I had to shake it off. I know it is just the protective side of mommy that wants to analyze each little incident and make sure no one is any way hurting my child. The teacher are great and Bray said he likes all the kids. But I can't help but think of all the horror that could be. I guess this is the separation anxiety that every child goes through. He just happened to start and the end of the week, rather than the beginning of the first day.

As it turns out, there was no reason to rush this morning. I pulled into the parking lot, checked my schedule to see where the Eng101 class room is, and realized that I had been looking at the wrong class when I saw "Friday at 10:00am". Maybe if there was air conditioning in my car, it wouldn't have been a huge deal, but class isn't actually until 12:20. I was looking at something that doesn't start until September. Braydon was relieved not to have to go to school just then. Hopefully he gets over his fear before it's time to really leave. He will be at school in just enough time to play outside, take a nap and eat a snack. Nap time. Damn it.