First Day

 "Sawyer, are you excited for your first day of school?"

"You betcha!"

I already knew the answer, but I like hearing him say it.  I am wondering how long we can ride this high before the "schooldrums" set in.  

The night before school started he set out his clothes.  A t-shirt with a bear "because it's classy," some new shorts, some blue and red socks "because they are the funniest ones I can find," and new running shoes which were "very fast," and it was essential to demonstrate their effectiveness several times.

The morning of his first day, we were loading up to go, and he paused to look at me, "Mom, I'm so excited, but I'm a little bit nervous too.  But mostly I'm excited."  And with that, we were off.  

We arrived at the church where the school meets a few minutes early, so we talked about helping his friends who were nervous to be brave and to be an encouragement to them and his new classmates.  Then we said a quick prayer for his day and headed to the building.  

If he was still nervous, there was no sign of it.  He tried to ditch me twice.  I had to remind him, that I was going to at least walk him to his classroom door.  I wouldn't go in and embarrass him in front of his new teacher and peers...yet.  We found his class, and he couldn't stop smiling.  He barely said goodbye and walked in just like we had practiced a week before.  I watched from the hall for a few minutes, and with a full heart made my way out of the building.  This place was exactly what he needed.  

A few minutes later, my phone lit-up with a message from a friend whose twins are in his class, Sawyer was freaking pumped.  "Girls I love your dresses.  Girls I hope you have a good day." 

Then from another friend, Sawyer says "H------, you look like a rad cool dude.  Probably way cooler than me."

He was taking his job very seriously, and I was not sad about it.  

The day blew by and before I knew it, we were picking him up.  He was still all smiles and wearing his first-grade crown as he climbed into the van.  "Mom, I am SO HAPPY!"  The day was a success.  On the twenty-five minute drive home, I got all the details.  From the page-by-page story of Amelia Bedelia, to the Simon Says and Turtle Tag in PE, and the funny kid who ate almost his whole lunch at snack time.  The boy missed nothing.  He was taking it all in, and thrilled to be part of it.  He couldn't wait to go back.  

 At dinner that night after re-sharing the details with his dad, he also told us he only had to say excuse me for tooting once (because even though it was quiet, it smelled bad), and he only picked his nose twice.  So we are going to chalk those up as successes as well.  Our little boy is growing up.