First Day Musings

The new 4th grader bounced off to all her friends
The little sister bounced her backpack and liked the noise it made
Parents tried to remember the other parents names
And the sun starts to heat up the black top

Let go of one hand and take a picture
Now she's with all the kids that go upstairs
We leave her there, confident and smiling
And cross the sunny playground all the way to the other side.

Nervous as we pass familiar faces
Hey who's your teacher, she's nice, nice to see you too
Hand is held tighter in anticipation
Introductions are made as reality sets in

The bell dings, a familiar sound that the parents remember
and one that the kids hear for the very first time.
The door opens to a smiling teacher wearing an alphabet skirt
She finds herself letting go of the hand that holds hers tightly

and walks in

Sits on the rug checking back to see if we are still there
looking back again each time with more worry and holding back tears.
Be brave, I mouth.
A little girl pats her on the back and she bites her lip.

Time to go, I whisper to her Daddy
We are too big for these chairs.
The first day of Kindergarten
and we walk home to an empty house.

I can't wait to go get her.