It was a day I had been dreading since this time last year – Grandparents Day at my granddaughter’s preschool, a very emotional day that left me and my granddaughter in tears.
First of all, I suck at goodbyes. I am hugely emotional and probably could use some professional help.
Grandparents Day last year started off beautifully. When Tilleigh, 4, (now in kindergarten in a different school) saw me walk into her room, she ran toward me in full force and jumped straight into my arms. She introduced me to her teachers and classmates and, for the next half hour, we played, we colored, we read books. Then it was time for me to leave.
That’s when things turned bad.
Tilleigh began crying (I think she inherited my ultra-sensitive emotional gene) and begged to leave with me. I had to go back to work, but was tempted to take a vacation day. But I couldn’t — I had an afternoon deadline. So I walked out of her classroom after reassuring her that she would be OK and that we’d be together later that day. It didn’t help. Her teacher had to peel her off me.