Much to Cooper's disappointment, preschool around here starts about 2 weeks after all the other schools. It was a L.O.N.G two weeks for Cooper who was chomping at the bit to be just like his brother and sister and go to school.
Today was the big day.
He was seriously excited, but as you can maybe tell from his fingers, he was also a little nervous.
Nervous about school?
No. Not at all.
He was ALL about going to school.
What he wanted to be absolutely sure of, though, is that we would be there to pick him up. He asked me every day leading up to school, "When you drop me off, then you come back to pick me up." I assured him that just like I ALWAYS pick up Sawyer and Chloe, that I will ALWAYS be there to pick him up.
I didn't shed a tear dropping him off this morning. I was too excited for him. He's been wanting to go back to school ever since he left school in China.
However, when I picked him up, he ran into my arms and immediately squeezed me with what had to be every ounce of strength he had. I mean an intense vice grip on my neck.
That's when I started to cry. Because I realized that squeeze was telling me something he was not able to articulate: somewhere in his little heart he wondered if maybe we weren't going to come back for him.
And, he said, "Mum, I missed you."
Seriously, where are tissues when you need them?
He squeezed me and I squeezed him all the way back to the car. And then a little longer. I assured him that I missed him every moment and that I could not WAIT to come pick him up. He was smiling from ear to ear, because I was there.
Oh, how I love this boy.
5 comments:
Jenna,
What a beautiful story! Just as Cooper has captured your heart, you are capturing his heart too.
God's limitless love is unfolding every day in this story of Cooper and his journey to you and your family!~ Michelle
Jenna, what a beautiful story! I know those hugs that you are describing. They are like none other. So glad you and Cooper have each other.
You have made my day reading about that massive love hug!--it hurts to know that somewhere in his heart he had a little doubt about you returning, but the huge step of trust that was made when you did return!!! (Of course.) Oh my goodness! What a strong little guy to go to school harboring that fear deep down!!! But oh the joyJOYjoy!!! of being reunited!
I just LOVE the deep little boy hug!
What a precious story! God's redeeming love! I love this story and I love seeing him work in your family!
Blessings!
That is a darling first day of school! First of all, do they come any cuter than Cooper?? And I love his little boy haircut! I can only imagine he missed school and is happy to be going - especially when he knows you are coming back!
i think its hard for our kids that were part of such great families - those families that kept them for so long and then didnt come back for them. Its hard for them to understand. Mya really wanted to go to school too, but was so scared for me to leave her (or for me not to come back..)
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