The first day of school for a parent is supposed to get easier each year, right? Well…not always. Yesterday was the first day of Grade 3 for my daughter Siena. It ended up being an unexpectedly emotional experience dropping her, though not for the reasons you might imagine. All I can say is that I was instantly thankful for three things:
- teachers with wide-open welcoming arms
- children running with joy into those welcoming arms
- dark sunglasses
At the end of the day I sent a message to Stuart to let him know if it had ended as well as it began: “What a day it’s been for me. That was a ton of raw emotion. She came home BURSTING with joy, so excited about her day.” And then last evening she told me, “You know mom, I love school.” I know it’s only the first day, but I’ll take it.
Here’s what happened and why it felt like it mattered so much.