Today my wife Kristen and I took our oldest son, Keaton (3 & ½ years old) to his first day of preschool. And in the blink of an eye we’ve got parent nights, fundraisers, fieldtrips and more. Having three little ones (all under the age of four) we have tended to roll our eyes when people say, as they so often do, “Ohhh, enjoy this time! They’ll be grown up and gone before you know it!” However, by about the 100th time we were told this, Kristen and I thought that this many people can’t be wrong.
So, we’ve been trying to be much more intentional about savoring every stage of they journey with our kids, and not merely looking forward to that next stage (though a stage without diapers will be nice). And standing down on the sidewalk this morning, watching little Keaton walk up the steps of the school on his first day–hair neatly combed, proudly lugging his new X-Men backpack–I realized the importance of this all the more. All day long I’ve been thinking about the words of a country song that was popular a decade or so ago.
Down our long dusty driveway
I didn’t want to go
But I set out with tears in my eyes wondering
Daddy took me by the hand
Looked out at the school bus and his little man and said
“Don’t worry boy it will be all right”
Cause I took this walk you’re walking now
Boy, I’ve been in your shoes
You can’t hold back the hands of time
It’s just something you’ve got to do
So dry your eyes I understand just what you’re going through
Cause I took this same walk with my old man
Boy, I’ve been in your shoes
Down our long dusty driveway
I set my mind to go
I was eighteen and wild and free and wondering
Daddy took me by the hand
Looked at the world and at his grown man and said,
“Don’t worry boy it will be all right”
Cause I took this walk you’re walking now
Boy, I’ve been in your shoes
You can’t hold back the hands of time
It’s just something you’ve got to do
So dry your eyes I understand just what you’re going through
Cause I took this same walk with my old man
Boy, I’ve been in your shoes
Down our long dusty driveway
This time we both would go
He had grown old and gray
And his mind was wandering
Daddy took me by the hand
Said, “I know where we’re going and I understand
Don’t worry boy it will be all right”
Cause I took this walk you’re walking now
Boy, I’ve been in your shoes
You can’t hold back the hands of time
It’s just something you’ve got to do
So dry your eyes I understand just what you’re going through
Cause I took this same walk with my old man
Boy, I’ve been in your shoes
Song:Â “The Walk,” by Sawyer Brown
3 Comments on “My little boy’s first day of school”
I cried when Kristen sent me the picture of Keaton and his backpack. I bawled when I read this. I’m so glad you made that phone call so long ago, “Hello, this is Brent Cunningham from Grand Canyon University. Is Kristen there?”
Like mother, like daughter. Of course I cried reading this too, picturing precious Keaton going to school like a big boy. I remember crying when I saw him walk for the first time too. I can’t even imagine having my own children yet because I love my nephew and nieces SO MUCH!!!
Hi Brent. Enjoy this time because before you know it, they grow up and they’re gone! 🙂 I know, not funny, lol. Thanks for the post. I had 4 at one time, all under the age 6 and now my first born is graduating high school this year. 🙁 Seems like yesterday she was a newborn. Anyway, Keaton is a bright boy. I know you’re a proud pappa.