Ok so the first day. I was a little not sure what to do when I got there, but things worked out great. I did notice that everyone was walking their children in. So, I parked and walked in too with my daughter. We went to the cafeteria and waited and then they let us go to the rooms and get them settled. I kind of felt sorry for the teachers, they had to "accept" us so early! Well we got in there and Syd got all her stuff put away and got her name tag on and the teacher comes over and gives me a hug. "Did I looked like I needed that?" - probably so. Syd was so glad to be there and so excited. Not one tear or one ounce of clinginess (if that is a word). So I walk out of the building leaving her there as I go off to work. The weird thing is, that is when I started tearing up. All the way out of the parking lot, I was crying. I drove off watching kids walking in with their families and it occurred to me that we are so fortunate to be able to be involved in "life" with so many different folks. What a privilege. They are all dealing with the same things we are but the difference is I have a God that I know is protecting my little girl. I got excited about what God is going to do in us and through us this year. I felt at peace and I thank God for that. As I went to pick her up today, after a really fast day, I started tearing up again. Not sure why, maybe because we have entered into a new phase of life. I watched for 20 min as I sat in the car rider line, all the kids riding bikes, walking and waiting for cars to pick them up and just felt excited about walking through life at the same time. Then I saw my HOT girl sweating in the line and she waved and seemed to have had a wonderful day! She did - thanks to all the teachers out there that make school a joy. I hope she acquires a life long love of learning.

So, here I sit at the computer. I have just put my little girl to bed and she is so excited about school starting tomorrow. I think she is more excited about the clothes she gets to wear. Any way, I have a weird wave of emotions going through me. Excited that she gets to go and experience school, scared that I am not sure how school will treat her. Strange I know. I have diligently prayed for this day all summer long. I have prayed she would have a great teacher, that she would find a good friend and that God would guide her and protect her. I have to also remember that some of the life experiences she is about to go through are what will make her in to the person God desires for her to be. But, I will still pray maybe more for me than for her. I hope she sleeps well and I hope I do too. So I have everything labeled. Lunch box packed with a little "I love you" note inside and an emergency phone number card in her back pack. Her car rider tag is safely pinned to the front. God please teach me how to guide her and love her when the school day ends. Teach me how to be excited for her and pursue her each and every day. Thanks Father for the chance to have a little girl and for helping prepare us and her for this day and thanks too that you will be with us as we learn about life with her. I think it will be a fun ride - one day at a time. Good night!

My husband and I have chosen to place our family within the public school system. We are both teachers and feel that that is where God wants us to be. We realize all families have their own needs and callings. I have to admit, even though we have made this decision, I am scared to death. I am scared that my little girl will not make friends, that she will have other kids be mean to her. I am scared of a lot of things. As I have sat and thought about my fears though, I have discovered that I am not scared of her being in the world - I am willing to teach her how to live within the world and not be of it. I hope to take the struggles she encounters and hold her hand and walk through them with her. I am scared of the social aspect of school. I am scared of all the other kids hurting her, her not sticking up for herself and things like that. I would imagine most parents of little girls, who are very sensitive, fear this somewhat. I keep thinking back to my time in school and remember those same things happening to me. They just happen, no matter what school you are in, no matter what neighborhoods you live in and how much we protect them from this sort of harm - it comes - sooner or later. UGH....

I think the best thing for me to do is to pray for her to be strong. I am trying too to prepare her for "mean" folks. I tell her they are out there and I use Laura's wise words to her son - if someone is being mean to you they are probably sad, scared, sick or jealous.

So the journey begins - I do not think I am ready but I know she is and I am going to pray my heart out for her teachers, her friends and for me!

Well, I have one child, and she is 5. So we are starting, in just a few weeks, the school adventure. My husband and I have decided to go the public school route and so I figured this would be a great place to journal our experience. I hope those of you out there that have chosen the same journey are not feeling alone. We are right there too. And who knows, all of us with kids in school may be experiencing very similar struggles, joys and adventures. We will update this once a month, sometimes more, sometimes less.