First day of school

I couldn't sleep last night, I woke up with an anxious feeling in my tummy, and I was too wound up this morning to settle down with a bowl of Kashi (so I "forced" myself instead to eat leftover birthday cake for breakfast--poor me). The feeling was oh-so familiar--it was that first day of school feeling. And I was a nervous wreck. (I thought I'd left behind the back-to-school jitters for good when I, you know, graduated. No one told me parents get them too.) So much to worry about: nut-free soy butter, water bottles, ice packs, folders, name labels, paperwork, calendars, clean faces, and, of course, the obligatory first day of school pictures...

Yes, those are the best I got.

But David did flash this sweet smile for me...

David is a preschool pro...but five hours is a long time. And this Pre-K curriculum will be much more academic than his school last year. He has a wonderful teacher and already found a good friend at last week's open house. But I'm still nervous for him.

And, Mary, sweet Mary, whose first day of school has happened before she even turns two. I suppose that's what happens when your dad leaves for a year and your mom needs her sanity. She, too, has a wonderful teacher, and I know she will grow to love school. But there were tears this morning...so, of course, I am nervous for her.

How is it that I have looked forward to this day for months--really, I've been counting down the days since March--and now that it's here (and I have four blissful hours to myself!), all I want to do is count down the minutes until I can go pick them up?

Only 33 minutes until I pick up Mary...and 93 until I pick up David...

Now it's 32...and 92...