I’ve leveled up in motherhood. I’ve graduated from half-days, and two pick-up times. I am now a mom of kids in school full day.

Whoa.

I had been hoping to put this off until next year. I was enjoying my time with Zevan on our days together for lunch. I would pick him up, and we’d be in the car, and he’d say, “It’s just you and me, mom.”

I just loved hearing that.

I had 18 months of just me and Zander time before Zevan was born, and I was stealing moments like these to have my me and Zevan time.

But Zevan had different plans. Since school started in August, when Zander started in full day kindergarten, Zevan wanted to be full day, too. He had lots of preschool friends who were also full day. And that’s what he wanted. He wanted to have lunch at school. He wanted to have recess in the “big playground.” And he wanted to see Zander.

At first, I thought it was a fluke. But throughout the school year, he kept asking when he could be full day. I told him that we could talk about him going full day in January, after the winter break. I secretly hoped he would lose interest, so we could have our time for the school year, and then transition to full day when he was in kindergarten, just like Zander did.

December came around, and Zevan was very sure he wanted to be full day. So Doug and I had to rearrange the budget (full day preschool is $500/month, while half day is $269) for next year. We talked with his teacher, Ms. Paula. We let the administration know. And it was done.

The whole break, I was feeling sad about it. My baby! Full day! I can’t even describe how squonky it made me feel.

Wednesday, the first day back after break, we asked Zevan if he was ready for full day school. He smiled and said “Yes!”

I felt so anxious when I took him to his class and we reminded his teachers that he was starting full day. They were very enthusiastic. After signing both boys in, I headed to the cafeteria to make sure they had his lunch card out and loaded with money.

It was all I could do at 11:00 AM to stay at home and not run to the school to check on him.

Finally it was time to pick him up. I got there early (VERY unusual for me) and picked him up first. Ms. Paula said, “I’ve never seen anyone so happy to come back to school.” They had Library class, and he got to check out a book to take home.

We walked around to pick up Zander, and he was chatting excitedly about his day. “I had cheese pizza for lunch!”

Then we ran into my dad, who said that he saw Zevan in the cafeteria and lunch time, and that Zevan was grinning and enjoying himself.

The first day was a success! He was loving it, and was totally ready for it.

The next day, when I picked him up, Ms. Paula said that he would announce to anyone he saw, “I am full day.” So cute!

And so today is the 3rd day, and the end of our first week of full day. I still miss him, but I can see how easy it will be to get used to having the day to myself.

When mentioning it to mom with younger children, they say enviously, “What are you going to do with all that time?” I remember that envy. It was only just last month that I envied May for that freedom during the day.

After our run this morning, May and I were making plans for next week, and that’s when I realized I had become a “mom with kids in school full day.” May gave me a congratulatory hug.

I can’t believe I’m here. Wow. It really does go by so quickly.