FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL & A FREE HAIRCUT TOO!

My kindergartner boarded the bus and headed for school, sporting a brand-new backpack and a back-to-school hairstyle. I hopped up the steps, gave her a kiss, snapped a quick photo and climbed down onto the sidewalk.

Three other kindergarten moms and I stood by the STOP sign and waved, as the bus pulled away.

All morning, I waited and wondered and prayed that she was safely enjoying the beginning of her academic career.

Noon could not come fast enough! By 11:45, I joined the other moms at the corner. Together, we scanned the horizon for a yellow school bus.

As the blessed bus finally creaked to a stop, we held our breath. Our children clomped out onto the pavement. My daughter's blonde head was bouncing up and down. Still, something wasn't quite right.

"What happened to your hair?" I asked.

"Carrie-Lee cut it on the bus," she said. Carrie-Lee was another kindergartner.

As the bus driver was closing the doors, I stuck my arm in. "May I ask you something before you leave?" I chirped, using the most polite tone I could manage at that moment.

Of course, the driver denied any possibility of barbering on his bus.

"Would you please show me where my daughter's assigned seat is?" I requested.

He led me to the third seat on the right. I bent down and looked under the seat. A pile of baby-soft blonde hair rested there.

"How could that possibly have happened?" the driver queried.

Within the hour, I received personal calls from the school's principal, the superintendent, and the president of the bus company. Can anyone say, "Litigation"?

My daughter's hair eventually grew out, although I did have to take her for a quick trim to clean up the damages. Instead of billing the school, the bus company, or the manufacturer of the kindergarten safety scissors, I paid the cost myself. Of course, when the school sent home a gift-wrap fundraising packet, I opted out. That seemed somehow fair.

HERE'S WHAT WE LEARNED.
The experience did teach our family a few important lessons about children on the school bus.

KNOW YOUR DISTRICT POLICIES.

Most larger school districts separate students by academic grade for bus assignments. High school students and middle schoolers usually don't ride with elementary kids. However, this is not always true. Check with your own district, if this concerns you.

VISIT THE SCHOOL DURING THE SUMMER.

Even if your children will ride a bus to school, you will

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