I can’t say that my 4-year-old daughter is going “back” to school because this will be her first year. Whether it is because she is four or because of her personality, she hasn’t said very much about the approaching big day. I have been wondering how she feels this new experience.

The other day I had my first glimpse at the inside of her brain. She came up to me at my desk, looked me beseechingly in the eye and said, “it’s taking for a long time to go to my new school.” I couldn’t have agreed with her more wholeheartedly. I am more and more ready for school to start because, as the tension level rises for my 7-year old, who is fully cognizant that school will soon be starting and is increasingly filled with fear, the tension level between the two sisters is rising. I don’t think we can get through five minutes without an argument between the two of them.

Yesterday I thought we could alleviate any subconscious concerns she might have by stopping at her school to drop off her medical forms. Although her teacher was supposedly locked away in meetings all day, we were pleasantly surprised to catch her en route to lunch.

Thankfully her teacher feigned joy at meeting my daughter. We peeked through the window at her classroom, noting the attractive rug ready for circle time, the tables and chairs for centers and lunchtime, and some fun toys for free play.

My daughter hasn’t spoken another word about the experience since we returned home. Is it projecting too much to assume that seeing her teacher in person and being able to mentally picture herself in the classroom will be a stress-reliever on her first day of school?

I can only hope…

(photo by OliBac)