I waved to Gleek and Link as they took off on their bikes to school, then turned to Patch.
“Hurry Patch. It is time to get into the car and go to school.”
Patch stopped in his tracks with a shocked look on his face. “But Mom! It’s walk to school day!”
It was indeed Walk To School Day. The green note came home yesterday along with a green ribbon for kids to tie to their bikes or backpacks. I’d forgotten about the note. I looked at the clock. Ten minutes until school start. The walk would take 20-30 minutes. I looked at Kiki, who had missed her bus and needed me to drop her off right after I dropped of Patch. I thought about the pile of work sitting in my office. I looked down at Patch. He was wearing a blue ball cap found in the closet this morning. The cap was too big for him. It came down to his eyebrows and over his ears. This had the effect of making his eyes seem huge. Those blue orbs were pleading with me. I knelt in front of him.
“Honey, there isn’t time to walk…”
Patch’s face crumpled and tears dripped from his eyes. Missing Walk To School day was a major tragedy for this small person. I’d no idea that it was so important to him, or I would have planned the morning differently. I frantically thought for a solution. If Kiki had not missed her bus, I would just have walked Patch to school. He would have been late, but happy…and tired. That’s a pretty long walk for five year old legs. I probably would have ended up carrying him for part of the trip. What Patch really needed was a short walk that ended with his arrival at school.
“How about this, I’ll drive you most of the way to school. Then we’ll let you out so you can walk the last bit?”
Patch considered. This plan would still let him cross streets with the crossing guard like all of the big kids. He nodded his agreement to the plan. We carefully tied the green ribbon to his backpack and hurried out to the car. About a block from the school, I stopped and let Kiki and Patch out of the car. He looked so small with his oversized hat and backpack. She looked so tall and grown-up walking beside him. In a moment I would have to drive on ahead of them to the school, so that Kiki could jump back into the car and be delivered to junior high. But for just a minute I watched the two of them walking down the street together. My oldest and my youngest, holding hands and going for a walk.
I’m glad I could make my little boy happy today.
Wow… I’m not usually an outwardly tearful person, but I happycried just a little bit reading this… It kind of reminded me of my sister and myself (she’s 16 years older than I am), and it reminded me of some of the reasons I’m excited to be a dad someday. I love how your simple prose and unique perspective captured this treasured moment. Thanks. 🙂
That was a great reminder of what is important.
I am going to get my butt out from in front of this computer and spend the rest of my lunch break just enjoying my youngest.
walk to school day
Sandra- I’m glad you helped Patch feel happy this morning. It’s hard to choose kids over work. You try really hard to stop everything for your kids.
However, I think it’s really important that you know walk to school day is tomorrow (Oct. 8th). There’s still time to wake up early tomorrow and try the walk again. 😉
backyard neighbor
Re: walk to school day
Yeah, she figured that out after Patch came home and one of the front-yard neighbors mentioned it. It’s a good thing, too, because Patch was still feeling a little down about the whole thing. He’d had a nice half-walk, but he still thought he’d missed out.
Tomorrow he won’t. 🙂