First Day of School Photos

My precious, sweet, goofy, little boy started fifth-grade today, something he's anticipated for several years now.

The first through fourth grades of his school are on a campus about a mile from our house, and the fifth through eight grades are on a campus right up the street from our house. Ever since I started work on that campus, Paul has looked forward to the time when he would be at school "near Mom," and could walk to and from school with me. So it was an exciting day even apart from the fact that he is now officially a Middle Schooler.

My feelings have been more mixed, since I know it will be a professional challenge to be both a staff member and a parent at the same school. Also, I'm used to my work at the school being part of my "non-Mommy" time, and I wondered what it would be like to have Paul pop up in and out of my work day.

But I was encouraged today by the way my heart leaped whenever he stuck his head in the library to say "Hi," or I spotted him in the halls. I used to get that feeling whenever I'd run into Ben back in the days when we both worked at the Library of Congress. It will be nice to have it again, even though it will be from seeing my "little boyfriend" instead of my big one.