In less than a week school starts and I’m a nervous wreck.
This will be the first year I will have two school aged kids. My son is starting pre-k and I’m haunted by what happened to my daughter Alison on her first day of school 12 years ago.
The school called at the end of the day asking if Alison was at home. My first thought was you’re kidding right? My parents and I learned that the bus driver tried to drop Alison off at an apartment complex about five miles away from the school.
I was told the bus driver didn’t believe she lived in the homes directly behind the school.
After all the phone calls and frantic searches by family members and school staff, the bus driver radioed in saying she had my daughter. She was on the bus entire time.
Alison is now a senior in high school and I’m not worried about her first day. She’s driving and will be heading to college soon.
As we prepare to send my son Brandon to pre-k, my mind is running wild about Alison’s first day. It happened at a brand new school, which had a veteran staff. And in my opinion, it was in one of the best school districts in the state.
Brandon will be going to school a year earlier than planned. As we get closer, the first day of school, my mind is running wild thinking about all the things that could go wrong. I feel like a deer in headlights.
Brandon isn’t familiar with a classroom setting. For the most part, Brandon has been watched by family, except for attending daycare for the last several months.
When he starts school I’m worried about him using the bathroom, recess time, and going to lunch in the cafeteria. Will he get lost in the bathroom, at lunch or even recess? He’s going to be in a school with several hundred children vs the state required ratio.
I’ve already called the school numerous times to inquire about the lunch schedule, after school care, and how many teachers they have. Thank the Lord for a new assistant principal who earlier this week told me, “It’s okay to ask these questions. And by the way I’ve only been here two weeks so I’m learning too.”
This has calmed me down for awhile. Well at least I hope. Open house begins next week, so maybe my nerves will calm down for good.
Brandon will not be riding a bus to school this year. I just don’t think I can take it right now.
