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Today was the first day back at school after our relaxing summer holidays. Sadly, gone are the lazy days full of fun, food and friends. Our house, which only yesterday was filled with our children and countless neighbourhood friends requesting popsicles and freezes, seems strangely quiet. Only the sound of the dishwasher is keeping me company today. Our campfire nights and jammie clad days seem like a distant memory ~ somehow the 6:15 alarm erased everything with its methodic beeping.

I sit in the quiet, finally finding time to work, however I feel a pang of sadness as I silently wish summer could have gone on forever. Yes, I am one mother who loves having her children at home with her.

As we drove the children to school today we spoke of their new teachers and appropriate behaviour. We talked about the new students arriving at the school and how important it is to make them feel welcome.

As we talked, I looked in the rear-view mirror and was surprised at what I saw. Perched in the very back seat on a comfy booster was my little Ella {5.5 years old}. She was nicely dressed in her school uniform, her hair neatly done and her Princess backpack firmly grasped in her little hands. She was ready for the day ahead, new classroom, new desk, new teacher, new place for her shoes, everything new. I was amazed at her quiet confidence.

As I looked at her, I knew that this confidence came partly from her older siblings. She has seen them come and go from year to year, new teacher, new classroom, new friends, etc., and they have survived. Through her observation of life this 5.5-year-old knew that she too would be okay.

Our son Gabriel. He is 9 years old and this year, being in 4th Grade, he moves upstairs in the big school. This is a big move for a young man. Gabriel sat in the car with a pensive look on his face, a confident young boy but nonetheless a boy considering his big step ahead. He asked questions about his new teacher and about who would be in his class. I knew there was concern but again there was a quiet confidence that allowed Gabriel to walk with his head high, his backpack securely on his back and an element of ‘It’s okay Mum, I can manage this’.

With his trademark ear-to-ear smile and a slight bounce in his step, Gabriel climbed the stairs to the second level of the school. He greeted his new teacher, found his desk and his supplies then gazed around this amazing classroom that would be his place of learning for the next 9 months. Again, my son had observed his sister moving seamlessly through elementary school and knew that he too would be okay.

My eldest Sophia. Today I write with a sense of pride and with a few tears rolling down my cheeks. My daughter Sophia has moved into Grade 7 ~ Junior High. She has spent the last week preparing for this day. Her books, binders, pencils, calculator and language dictionaries have been labelled. Her book bag packed and her new Junior High uniform neatly hung in her closet patiently waiting for today. A new wing in the school, a locker to manage a schedule and multiple teachers did not daunt this gorgeous girl.

As I watched her through the rearview mirror my heart skipped a beat. I looked at this lovely girl so poised and confident, so prepared and so excited to continue learning {and of course developing her social life}. I looked at her and felt that if I blinked I would see that little pre-school girl with pigtails in her hair and a hint of nervousness in her expression.

I blinked but I didn’t see her. Instead I saw a young lady ready to take on Junior High. I saw a lovely older sister who had paved the way and taught her siblings so much, without even knowing it. Today I saw grace, beauty and wisdom wrapped beautifully in a package I am proud to call my daughter. At school, this lovely girl walked through the doors that separated her from her elementary life and walked confidently towards her future.

Her father and I walked behind, him snapping photos whilst I carried an extra bag full of books that she initially felt was too heavy. As we walked further down the hallway, I watched her friends gather around her. Soon enough, this beautiful girl turned towards me, her long brown hair shifting across her back, as she looked at me and said, “It’s okay Mum I can take the bag from here. I’ve got it.” Suddenly the extra bag didn’t add weight, instead the bag, coupled with everything else in her hands and on her mind felt weightless. I hugged her, and yes even kissed her, and said, “I love you my darling girl, have the best day. We are so proud of who YOU are.” With that, she turned to her friends and continued on her way.

As all of this happened, my husband remained snapping photos, making sure he captured this amazing moment in time. Was she embarrassed, like many at her age would be? No, she just smiled, posed and let her dad know how much she loved him.

Needless to say, we walked away with full hearts. Three children securely placed in their classrooms for another successful year of learning. I have come home after enjoying a lazy breakfast, lovely coffee and uninterrupted read of the newspaper only to grab my calendar and count the days until our next school break.

Susan J Sohn

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