Hayley was in a great mood this morning when I woke her up for school, and I have to relish that because I know that later in the year, her school wake-up time is about an hour earlier than her inner clock and she won’t be so cheerful or quick to eat then. Another thing that happened that is rare later in the year is that she was fully dressed and waiting by the door about ten minutes early. And that was fine, because that meant photo time!

I know she was a little bit nervous, especially since we didn’t know who the teacher was or which friends would be in class with her, but she was definitely feeling the excitement more than the nerves, thank goodness.

The school yard looked like utter chaos with pretty much 95% of the students and most of their parents milling about. I was wondering if I’d need to get my paper bag out to breathe, but it was actually far more organized than it appeared. They spread kids out all the way around the outside of the building by grade, then the teachers all taped up their class lists on the brick walls. I found Hayley’s class and the angels sang above because a) it was the teacher I had heard about, all kinds of great things were said about her by other parents (I’m sure the other teacher is just as good, though I hadn’t heard a peep about her), and b) her best friend is in her class. For the past few weeks, she kept asking me if I thought her best buddy would be with her and I had no idea. I am so grateful they are together, since three of her other close girlfriends are in the other class. She also has one girl from the other Kindergarten class with her, someone she used to play with at recess and lunch last year, and a boy that she is really friendly with. That was all a big relief for both of us – I know having familiar faces really helps calm the nerves.

Look at that FACE. Seriously, isn’t it a shame that she was so sad? Don’t you wish she was a little bit excited? She was just about jumping out of her own skin, she was so excitable.

Finally, a full half hour after the bell rang, they were all ready to start moving into the classrooms. Her new teacher got them to all line up next to the wall and then they started trooping into the school, off to grade one. I was worried that she might start crying when I had to leave, but she just called out, “Bye Mom! Bye Breanna!” and sauntered off. I was struck, when I got home, to realize how tall she is in that picture. She’s like the Amazon child.

Her bag was so heavy with all her supplies, plus she had an extra plastic grocery bag with other supplies, and her lunch bag, so I think she was partly happy just to be getting a chance to put it all away.

By this time, they’re just about ready to head back inside after lunch time and afternoon recess, and then it will soon be time for me to see her again. I’m remembering this time last year, where I would find myself getting really excited around the time I was getting my own lunch, because I would be looking forward to hearing about her day. I can’t wait to find out how her first day as a first grader went, if she learned anything new, whether they did anything in French class today, and how she likes her new teacher.

Sometimes I think I’m at least as excited as she is about these things.