Awww, your baby is getting be a little man. :)

I love puppies though! You should get one! LOL.

The last time I got teary on my son's first day of school was the day he started fifth grade. At that point, I didn't have other children, so he was my baby, and on that day, especially, it felt as if he was growing up so fast, and where had those years gone? I made sure to take the rest of the day off, and I kept busy, and did something small for myself. And baked a desert to share with him after he got off the bus, even though I knew the details he'd share could be limited. Probably the stillness of the house is hardest to get used to, but if you keep yourself busy in those first days, it helps.

Puppy! Puppypuppypuppypuppy!

Cliche, schmiche. You know you want one!

Karen, I feel the same way. We only have one child and he just graduated from Pre-K. You wouldn't think I'd be this traumatized as he's been in school since he was a baby because I was teaching full-time then. But for the last couple of years he's just been attending for a few hours a day. A few hours a day was bliss because he was learning, interacting with other children since he's an only I thought that was important and it gave me a break. BUT I do not want to him to be away all day. I know it's a necessary part of separation but it's not easy. We have so much fun together during the day and do so many wonderful activities together during the day when museums, etc are not too busy because everyone else is at work or school. I'm wanting another baby but my husband is happy with just the one. So here comes the empty nest.

Thanks for your comment. It did make me feel better. You are absolutely right there are a lot of great things about having an only. I really am glad that we are so close, I get to spend so much private time with him, and that we are able to give him so much undivided attention.

I absolutely remember that very same first day of school when my youngest started kindergarten. You aren't a cliche and there is nothing wrong with adding a dog to the family. I'd highly recommend it! And just remember that while watching the bus leave will be rough -- watching it arrive at 3:00 is wonderful!

I definitely felt a little melacholy when E finished Kindergarten (half days) and we went into last summer. I like spending extra time with her, and I knew that was coming to an end...but by the end of summer, I was pretty ready to have both kiddos gone all day :)

To cope, I just try and make the most of my time with both kiddos, I guess...make each moment count. And I don't like dogs, so I wouldn't suggest that (ha).

I'm no help with the empty nest problem--and I'm nothing except a bad influence when it comes to PUPPIES!!!!

I got Dog Edna when my youngest child was six. Now that I have two teens and a preteen, sometimes the dog is the only one in my house who acts happy to see me when I walk in the door. So, yeah, get a dog.

You are stronger than the cliche--think of what you will do with the time that is freed up while both kidlets are in school. Like write! Meet with a writing partner, take a writing class, write... Every school day. (Which usually turns out to be three or four days a week, because of course you'll volunteer to help out at school, or there'll be class trips, or...)

I do remember, when BD was in 6th grade and the school did a whole First Day ceremony, with the students marching away from parents into the school, that the kindergarten moms all were dabbing their eyes, while we 6th grade moms were figuring out where to go for a cup of coffee.

Your boys are moving into the next stage. You can, too.

My daughter will be starting Pre-k in September and I'm feeling the same way. So far she's attended story times with me twice a week, but now she'll be on her own for three mornings a week. I think she'll handle it much better than I will. I already have a dog and cat, so I won't be getting a puppy.

I'm way late to the discussion, Karen, but wanted to say my sister-in-law got a puppy when her boys went off to school. But if there's not complete support for a puppy addition, I would NOT do it. Puppies are a massive amount of work. If you want a dog, get one that's at least a year so the chewing, peeing, digging, etc issues are (mostly) behind you.

As for being teary, I wiped those tears away and reveled in my time alone. :)