Even Helicopter Moms Celebrate Back-to-School

Helicoptering has admittedly always been my parenting style in some aspects. I have never been a full day away from my 4-year-old. Ever.

I used to text whoever was watching her every half hour, on the half hour just to make sure things were going well, that she hadn’t choked on a grape, a rabid animal hadn’t bitten her, etc. You know, normal concerns. When the response was that they were having a good time, I had mixed reactions of part relief, part jealousy. I wanted to be there, experiencing those precious moments, too.

But something happened over this past summer. It could be that 4 years was finally enough time that I’m ok with a break. It could be that my daughter is breaking me with her 4-year-old assertiveness and all. those. emotions. Or it could be that I see how confident she now is when she struts into the Sunday School room, the Y kid zone, or a mini dance camp program — all without shedding a tear. And I know that she is ready for some autonomy.

Whatever the reason for the change in both of us, I have absolutely no worries about sending her off to preschool. In fact, I’m looking forward to seeing her wearing a backpack as big as she is and waving goodbye to me with a smile on her face. I’m excited to hear the bubbly chatter on the drive home about what she did, who she played with.

I love this girl fiercely with all my heart and appreciate every moment I’ve had with her. Maybe because of all of those moments, I’m confident that she’s ready for the next adventure in her life – without me in that adventure.

So, on her first day of preschool, I’m going to wave goodbye to that sweet, grinning face and maybe shed a tear on the drive home. But the minute I click that garage door opener, Kool and the Gang are gonna greet me with a celebration, figuratively speaking.

What’s on my party agenda, you ask? For two and a half glorious hours, I plan on doing these things without guilt or restraint:

• Drinking coffee that is still hot. Not lukewarm. Not re-heated. Not stone-cold. Hot.
• Dunking a donut in said hot coffee without being forced to share with my preschooler and then enduring her sugar high.
• Reading a book — in complete silence.
• Reading said book, stretched out on a couch that is all mine.
• Going to the bathroom without a tiny voyeur simultaneously mocking me and trying to see my pee.
• Taking a nap – if I feel like really living on the edge.

And that about sums it up for this party animal.

When I finally get to listen to all of that bubbly chatter on the drive home, I’ll be rejuvenated and ready to truly appreciate the excitement of a preschooler’s first day of school.

I know I won’t be the life of the party for every school day; I may not even have this luxury in subsequent years, so come the first day of preschool, even me, the helicopter mom, is going to live it up.

What would/will you do if you have a free moment to yourself this fall?