First Day at School - 流水账

Today (8/30/06) is Olivia's first day at school as a first grader.

This morning, she got up right after the alarm in her room went off without any delay. She was on top of everything from brushing her teeth to finishing her breakfast without us nagging her at all. Twenty five minutes before the bus came, she had her shoes on and the backpack on her shoulders and kept on telling her daddy: "Let's go dad, I don't want to be late for the school bus!"

However, I could tell that she was a little nervous.

"Are you excited to go to school today, Olivia?" I asked her. "You are going to meet so many new friends, how exciting is that?"

"Ye-ah." She answered with a little bit hesitation. "Huh, I am a little bit worried as I don't know what's going to happen today," she told me.

"Don’t worry, honey. I've told you once the school bus gets to school, there will be teachers at the bus stop to meet you and take you to where you are supposed to be." I assured her.

Knowing she couldn't wait any longer, we went to the bus stop and she was the first one there. We took some pictures of her, and then gradually the kids from the neighborhood came one by one. Those who were with parents holding camera or camcorders were apparently either the new 1^st graders or kindergarteners.

Finally, the bus came. Each of us gave Olivia a hug and kiss including Evan. We wished her a great first day at school. As she went on the bus (picture 1), I was a little emotional. My little girl had grown up and today she will start another journey of her life-school.

Evan had told me that he would go on the school bus with Olivia since this morning. He has been going to daycare with Olivia every morning since he was eight months old and is used to be her buddy doing everything. Not until Olivia got on that bus and we held his hand telling him he was too young to go with her did he realize that he wasn't going with Olivia this time. He bent his head down looking very upset (picture 2).

On the way to daycare, it suddenly hit me that Olivia just changed her class a week ago. Does her teacher know that she is allergic to peanuts? What if today someone sits next to her is eating peanut butter sandwich? With everything going on the first day, will she remember that she is supposed to go to the after school program and not to take the bus home? What if she forgets and follows others on the bus and nobody will be at the bus stop to pick her up? I started to get really worried.

I called the school right after I got to work and after talking to the nurse and her teacher knowing that they are aware of her allergy and they will make sure the kids go to the right place after school is over, I finally put my heart into my chest.

The first school day passed just like any other day. On the way to pick up Olivia from school, I was wondering how her day went. Would she be happy or be crying when she saw me?

I pulled the gym (where the after school program is) door open, Olivia saw me and immediately ran into my embrace with a big smile "Mommy! Mommy!"

Although I tried, she was still the last one to be picked up (what a surprise), so I said: "Honey, I am sorry you are the last one here."

"It's okay, mom. I don't mind at all." She forgave me just like she did in daycare.

"So, how was the first day at school?" I asked enthusiastically.

"Very good! I like my teacher a lot. I like my new friends too. And oh, the teacher had shown us how to order the food in the cafeteria. I already remembered my four numbers. You just put your numbers into the machine and hit enter to pay and then you can have your lunch. It's easy. Oh, mom, I have a lot to tell you about my day today, so I will tell you half and daddy half. But first I want to show you my classroom."

Listening to her non-stop talking, I felt so happy. I was so glad to see that her first day went well and she was excited and happy about her school.