A year ago when Thomas started preschool he became part of a dinosaur loving triumvirate. Thomas, Jesse and Matthew did everything together. They ate lunch together, napped next to each other and, of course, played dinosaurs together. They were three horns on the same Triceratops.
A few weeks ago, Thomas and I were changing into our clothes after swim lessons. “Today was Matthew’s last day,” Thomas said.
Thomas and Jesse are best friends of the first order. As a part timer at the school Matthew was never quite as close to either Jesse or Thomas. Nonetheless, he was a vital part of the threesome. This was a big deal.
I looked up from tying my shoes and looked at Thomas. His arms hung straight at his side. He was staring at an empty spot next to me on the bench. Then he shifted his eyes to mine and said, “he was one of my best friends. I remember when ….” He paused. “So, first it was me and Jesse and then one day Matthew showed up and we were just always together. And now. He’s gone.”
Matthew was off to summer camp and then, ultimately, kindergarten. Kindergarten at a school different than Thomas’.
Today Thomas has less than two weeks left at school, but this Friday is Jesse’s last day. Like Matthew, he will be attending a different school than Thomas. Thomas talks about this almost everyday. He’s sad. I’m sad too.
I know that Thomas can see his two friends again. I know that there will be play dates and birthday parties. And even if those things don’t happen, one day this loss will be all but forgotten. More importantly, there will be new best friends, new gangs and new loves. Some will last a lifetime. Others will be short and sweet. All of that awaits him. I can’t wait to see him live it. And yet, to see this mighty threesome come to end, well, it breaks my heart.
7 Comments
It’s like having a front seat at his first friend heartbreak. Very sad, indeed. I hope it’s the first of very few of them in his life.
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Awww… Poor kid. This breaks my heart for him too.
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Poor Thomas, I am feeling sad and lonely for him:(
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Okay, I go to the end of this post with a huge sigh of relief. “And then he was gone.” I swear my heart leapt into my chest, not knowing exactly what that meant. I’m sorry he is going through this. I moved a number of times as a kid and know how much it can suck. Plus side, though, I’m still friends with some of those people, at almost 30! I wish that for him. :)
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I am suddenly sad for my elementary school friends…
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As a stay at home father of 4 boys I can attest this scene never lessens in impact, last summer our boys had to face the knowledge that they were moving across Canada away from all their friends as school came to an end it was a pretty hard time for them.
So we thought what the hell, we sent them to school with 30 invitations each (only 2 were in school) and threw a big end of year party, rented a bouncy castle, and opened the pool and the resulting mayhem of 35 kids (thank god all 60 didn’t show up) was an absolute joy.
And for us as parents we got to enjoy the awe that the other parents expressed at our willingness to host such a party!
And now the kids are finishing off their first school year, with new friends, yet they are looking forward to the month long return trip home to visit their old friends that they’ve kept in touch with.
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As a stay at home father of 4 boys I can attest this scene never lessens in impact, last summer our boys had to face the knowledge that they were moving across Canada away from all their friends as school came to an end it was a pretty hard time for them.
So we thought what the hell, we sent them to school with 30 invitations each (only 2 were in school) and threw a big end of year party, rented a bouncy castle, and opened the pool and the resulting mayhem of 35 kids (thank god all 60 didn’t show up) was an absolute joy.
And for us as parents we got to enjoy the awe that the other parents expressed at our willingness to host such a party!
And now the kids are finishing off their first school year, with new friends, yet they are looking forward to the month long return trip home to visit their old friends that they’ve kept in touch with.
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