For my 7-year-old, the first day of “big school” was not kindergarten but a two-year, all-day, five-day-a-week Montessori pre-school program she began at the age of 3. I still remember her standing at the back door, wearing her pink Merrells, a nervous smile and a purple backpack bigger than she was. I tried not to let it show, but I was just as anxious about her first day of school. Would she make friends? Would she adjust to the schedule? Would she like the chocolate milk? I needn’t have worried. When I walked her down the hall – with about a dozen other first-timers – she hugged me, went into her classroom and never looked back. I don’t know what I cried more about: that my first born was growing up or that she no longer needed me. When she started kindergarten, I cried again. Same with first grade, and no doubt there will be tears when her little sister starts big school next fall. Let ‘em roll… Mamas and daddies, please share stories of your children’s first day of school – or your own – with me.
If you have pictures and stories of the big day you would like to share, I’ll post them in this blog. Send them to ginny.miller@djournal.com.
- Ginny Miller
July 31, 2007 at 3:39 am
Looking forward to the education blog Ginny. Thanks.
July 31, 2007 at 9:35 am
Welcome to blogging, Ginny.
July 31, 2007 at 10:39 am
Great story! My first day of first grade was spent in the Little Girls’ Room right next door to my first-grade class. No amount of Pepto-Bismol calmed my first-day fears. However, in the years that followed, the pink stuff became my friend and helped me through many first days of junior high, high school, college, six years of teaching school. So when I think of school starting, I see always see … pink.
July 31, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Oh, Leslie, you poor thing. I would have never guessed that about you.
I (the Carlie half of Biz Buzz here) loved my first day of school because my mom made a new dress for the occasion. I got to pick out the pattern (poufy with puff sleeves) and fabric (white, pink and purple). I spent the week before the big day on the kitchen table with my mom pinning fabric all over me.
I don’t actually remember my first day, though. But I still have the dress.
July 31, 2007 at 1:02 pm
My first and only child is going off to college this year and I can’t stand the fact that he is a man and he really dosen’t need me anymore. Every time I think about it I start to cry. I thought kindergarten was hard, but this is killing me. I thank God that I made it through 13 years of grade school. I pray that the Lord blesses and keeps him now that he is an adult. This is going to be the hardest thing I have ever done. I will trust him to the Lord and let him go. To all you other parents letting go of your children, may the Lord will watch over them until they are safely home again.
July 31, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Tell me about it…mine starts kindergarten in a few days. I feel your pain Zanthia. It seems like mine should still be in the crib.
[sigh]
Oh well. At least she’s out of diapers.
We’ve got to go this week or early next and get all her school supplies and some new clothes. (I know, I know…we’re behind) We’re having a mommy-daughter “date” on Thursday to both get haircuts. It’ll be her first “big girl” salon visit and she’s excited. Why not turn the first day of big school into a celebration? I hope I can keep her excited about school so it will be fun for her.