The First Day of School...Together

This past week was the first week of school for my girls. Ari had been to preschool at a different school than Bella up until now, so this was the first week of school where they would FINALLY go to the same school together.

Bella had been dreaming about this day for a long time. She had seen many of her friends with their siblings at school for years, and now the big sister would finally get the chance to show off the little sister and wave a watchful hello to her in the hallways or in assembly, and Ari would sweetly wave back in excitement. Well, at least we hope that's how it will go.

Selfishly, I had been dreaming about this day too. Their five year age difference had held things up a bit on the convenience front when it came to school. Now, no more shuttling to and from two different schools on two different schedules with no less than four family members helping out with the logistics of it all. I would now be on one, steady schedule - one drop-off, one pick-up (thank goodness for after-care) and most importantly, UNIFORMS - the saving grace of every mom with daughters.

It was a beautiful, sunny day last Tuesday, September 7th. The sun was shining bright, however near their school, which is situated closer to the lakefront, the wind was blustery and nippy. You could even say it was downright cold. As we hurried through the school parking lot to meet my giddy in-laws, waiting in front of the school with cameras in hand to snap the momentous occasion, Ari stopped short, as did her sister shortly thereafter. In my haste to get behind some kind of wind shield, I turned when I didn't feel them following me, and caught this:



















At first I thought Ari was having doubts about going to school after all this time. She had always talked about going to Bella's big school, finally getting a backpack and a lunchbox, going in the same door at drop-off and playing on the same fun playground she would see all the other kids playing on as she stared with her curious, brown eyes out of the car window when she was younger.

It turned out she had gotten something stuck in her eye from the crazy winds slapping us in the face on this first day of school. You can see that in the photo on the left. But as soon as Bella stopped to nurture her issue, it seemed as though she was able to express to her, in that private moment, how she REALLY felt about all the changes she knew were about to happen today. That is more evident in the picture on the right. Her look shows a bit of fear and apprehension. Yet she is still comforted by the fact that now, Bella is there to comfort her.


-Cathy