That High School is My Elementary School?

The first day anywhere new is scary.

The fourth first day at your fourth elementary school is even scarier.

After a very quiet car ride, Ali, Cole and their nerves walked through the double-wide sliding doors into the massive Rowe Lane Elementary.  We looked at the ceiling that stretched up over 40 feet high making my two brave kids seems that much smaller.  The secretary, with her soothing southern accent, welcomed them and lead us to their classrooms. 

We watched the large rocketships hanging over the doors to find the ones that had their teacher's names on them.  Cole's came first.  His teacher seemed unaware that Cole was coming, but quickly flashed a pagent winning smile and assured me she'd take good care of him.  She ushered Cole to the front of the classroom where he stood nervously while she rustled around her desk.  The class let their eyes dart back and forth from Cole to the students on the big screen announcing what was for lunch.  I had just enough time to wonder, Does he even have a desk?, when the secretary nudged Ali and I on to her classroom.

Ali's teacher was on the ball.  A desk, surrounded by two smiling girls sat right by the classroom door.  Mrs. McVan had a tour scheduled that morning so Ali could get to know the school (and a classmate in the process).

I left with a stomach twisted like a gnarled yarn-ball.  Previous first days had ended in tears and awful stories about mean kids and lonely recesses.  Mike and I white knuckled the entire day waiting to hear how our kids did.  Cole was the first to come out the sliding doors, with a classmate trailing behind him.  His new friend drilled me for information, Is Cole a walker?  'Cuz I'm a walker.  Does he have to get a ride from you every day.  Where do you live? Oh you live WAY up the street that way? It was refereshing (once the interrogation was done) to see Cole smiling and announcing he had made two new friends that day, and had a desk twice as big as he had at his other schools!

Ali's report was much the same.  She said her whole class was her friend, but named off a few girls that were especially nice. 

They both still think the school looks as big as a High School (it really is huge) and have both decided (after only two days of school) that Rowe Lane is their favorite... by far.

Hallelujah!