Happy Constitution Day! (Yesterday)

One of the really fun things about our Nugget going to a classical school, is that they work really hard on things like memorizing the Pledge of Allegiance, and celebrating Constitution Day. I love it!

The First Day

It's the first day in lots of ways. Anni's first day away at kindergarten. Daniel's and my first day sending one of our babes off to school. Colette's first morning all alone with Mommy.

This morning I woke Anni, and she crawled into bed with me to wake up the rest of the way. I had the sudden realization that we may not have left as much time as we needed for everything we wanted to fit in that morning to get her off on her way, but part of me desperately wanted to keep her sleepy self all curled up right next to me.

After rousing ourselves, she munched on her breakfast, but was so excited that she was "full" just a few bites in... a big deal for my little girl with the big appetite. By the time we got on the road, she was brushed, braided, and uniformed as sweetly as can be.

Of course, then the 10 minute drive turned into a 30 minute drive when we got stuck behind a four-car accident, and my brain just kept repeating, "Not on her FIRST day of school... are we really going to be those parents?!" I was in the car with the girls, so outwardly I stayed calm so Anni wouldn't realize things weren't going according to plan. I don't need to pass on any more anxiety to her... let her stick with excitement for her very first day! Of course, all was fine, because everything that I freak out usually does turn out fine (life lesson here, all!) There were plenty of parents still herding their littles (and not so littles!) into the front door when we got there.

They let the kindergarten parents walk their little ones in for their first day; and because we were a little late, our urgency and Anni's pure excitement kept my tears at bay. When you walk through the classroom door, there's an itty bitty hallway before it opens up, and as we snuck Anni in, a mama stood there, hidden from the class, with tears dripping down her face. After settling Anni in, as we watched our girl's little braids swinging at her desk for a few moments, the other mama whispered, "Is this your first?" I nodded, feeling the tears start to prick, and she smiled a little and said, "This is my last. It's hard no matter what."

As we walked out of the classroom,  I let a few tears trickle out, and then remembered we were meeting in the office with other kindergarten parents, and tried to pull myself together. (I'm pretty sure I still looked like I'd been crying, as another mom's first question when I walked in was, "Are you doing okay?")  

It's amazing all the emotions this first day brings. I'm so excited for her and so proud of the sweet, smart, and caring little girl we've raised. I'm also a worrier, so I worry that she won't be happy, or it won't be the right place for her, or or or...

Happy first day, my Antonia, there's so many beautiful, hard, and amazing things ahead of you. I can't wait to see where else you're going to go in this sweet life of yours!