first day

Because Jim and I are both professional educators, our lives continue to revolve around the school calendar. Everyone in our house has a first day of school, regardless of our ages (at least for now). And everyone in our house has nerves the first day, too. As educators, we are expected to be fully prepared on the first day, when, honestly, sometimes we are just really good at smiling and nodding. I think it's the same for children, too. They smile and nod and just go with the flow until things seem "normal" again. Will told me as he was falling asleep tonight that it felt like he was just visiting his new class today. I thought that was a good analogy. Every year as we start anew in August, sometimes it feels like we're just visiting the new year. Eventually, it starts to feel like home.


This year, we had extra reason for nerves in the house. Ben started Kindergarten. He was so very excited about it. He couldn't wait to go to school with Will again. Will seems very pleased to have him there, too. Apparently, they get to see each other at recess and at after school. At least, that was the report today.

It's been kind of bittersweet to watch Ben make this step. I now am mom to two school-aged kids; no more babies in our house. Surprisingly, I haven't been teary about it--the only time I got a little emotional was at Meet the Teacher Night, when I saw his name actually pasted to a spot on a table. There it was...he was really going to be in school. My eyes welled up with tears for just a second...but no tears! How can I be sad when he's so ready and so excited?

So today was the day. My baby started Kindergarten. Here he is at his table this morning, nervous, but smiling and slowly making this new place his home.