"no bus!"

Ever struggled with the mixed emotions of putting your new student on the school bus for the first time?  I'm a fairly protective Dad, and my work schedule allowed me to be there for 2 of my 3 older kid's first bus rides, so I can relate.  They all did fine, like we knew they would.  It's just hard to let go with that first independent step out into the big scary world.

But typically a kid is what... five or six years-old for that first bus ride?

How about two years and ten months?

"No bus... no bus... no go... no go!" 

That is how Jen and I started this morning... buckling a crying not-yet-three-years-old Benny into a car seat on the county school bus at 7:30 in the morning.  I watched (and listened) from the front of the bus, broken-hearted for my son, as Jen secured him toward the rear of the bus, handed him one of his favorite blankets, snapped a quick photo, and kissed him.  She then turned around and walked down the bus aisle, without looking back.  With eyes leaking, we both quietly walked down the driveway without watching the bus pull away... he was too short to see us out the window, anyway.  We both agreed we were doing what was best for Benny, but that didn't make it easy!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, since last September, Benny has been attending early intervention preschool, two days per week, operated by our County Board of Developmental Disabilities.  Although busing was available to us, he was just way too little for us to put him on that big bus for the 20 mile ride between our home and the school.  So, Jen has been driving him the two days per week.

At first, the five hour school day was traumatic enough for him.  He has never liked being separated from his Momma!  Fortunately, he quickly adjusted and grew to like school.  It became a happy, safe place for him, and one of the phrases he learned to say was, "go school".  He has an excellent teacher, and the structured environment has been very good for him.  More importantly, we feel he has made substantial progress since September.

Because the program is designed for developmental delay, they have school through the summer, so the kids don't lose ground.  He had a three week break in June and he will get a two week break in August, at which point the "new" school year kicks off.  It is expected that he will re-qualify for the upcoming school year, at which point his IEP moves him up to a full five day schedule.

Although it was a hard decision to put such a young one on the bus, Jen and I agreed that he could handle it, and that the time and financial strain of continuing to drive him five days, instead of two, was too much.  We arranged for the busing to begin after the June break, to ease him into it before fall.  He missed the first week back to school, because of illness.  Last Thursday was his first day back, and Jen drove him in the morning and let the bus bring him home.  He did pretty well.  He arrived home with no tears, but he put his head on Jen's shoulder and said, "I sorry, I sorry", which to Benny likely meant, "that made me sad".

This morning was the first time the bus took him AWAY from Momma, rather than back TO her.  It was a little more traumatic, but the driver told her he didn't cry too long.  He knew (even though he cried about leaving) that he was doing something brave and big-boy-like.  When he got home, Jen asked him, "did you ride the bus?"  He smiled, and said, "uh-huh".

Don't ya hate it that doing what is best for your kids isn't always what is easy?  (For them, or us!)

Love ya, Benny Jay!  You're my favorite Benny in the whole world!

"no bus, no bus!"

"no go, no go" (morning)

Proud, tired boy after a long day... 7:30 to 4:00!