My daughter started Pre-K two days ago (August 6, 2008). She had been in the Early Head Start/Head Start Program for 3 years, so she knew what to expect when she walked into her classroom. We got out of the car that morning, and I helped her put on her new backpack, stuffed with all of her school supplies. We walked up the walkway to the front door, and my daughter saw a ramp beside the stairs. She said, "I want to go up the ramp, momma!" So, off she went up the ramp. She beat me to the door!

We walked in, and she already knew what classroom to go to. She knew this because she had already met her teachers, Ms. Tonya and Ms. Gwen, last year. Her teachers greeted her, and she put her backpack up. Ms. Gwen was helping the other children do puzzles, so my daughter joined in, too. Shortly after, they went onto their rug and started circle time. I said bye to my daughter. Did she notice? No! *laugh* She was already into her day, and she didn't care if I was there or not. Talk about being comfortable in her environment. Did I get upset about her not noticing me? No! My daughter trusted her environment and her teachers. Who was I to complain? I quietly left the room to continue on with my day.

I came back to pick my daughter up at the end of the school day. I knew she would need a little help from her teachers with some things, but I knew that her teachers knew what they were doing. So though I did ask how her first day went, I didn't ask about every single thing. You see, my daughter has right hemiplegia, which is weakness of the right side of the body. So, sometimes she needs a little extra help to do things that come naturally to most of the rest of us. Did I need to worry? No, because she did just fine, and she made four new friends.

Anyway, when I walked in to the room, I held my finger up to my lips, so that her teachers wouldn't say anything. Ms. Gwen saw me and didn't say anything. Ms. Tonya was on the other side of the room cleaning up, so she didn't see me. My daughter, of course, was oblivious to my entrance in to the room. She was playing with her classmates at a table castle that had some little people with it. She was leading the whole conversation, again totally at home in her environment. Miss Tonya said, "Hey, Kim!" My daughter looked toward the door and around that side of the room and didn't see me, so she continued playing. I was standing right in front of her! She must have noticed someone standing in front of her because she looked up at me and jumped. She didn't even know I was there! *laugh*

Ms. Tonya said, "Kim, you just wouldn't believe how she talked on that phone to you, today. She was standing there saying, 'Kim, someone wants to talk to you. Can you talk?' And, Kim, she paused for a minute and said, 'My mommy can't talk right now. She's naked in the shower!' Ms. Gwen and I just couldn't stop laughing!" Well, when they told me about it, I couldn't, either! My daughter definitely has a comedic side to her.

Well, needless to say, her first day was a total success. I got a good report, and I couldn't have been happier as a mother. My little one is growing up, but she is still my baby in my eyes, no matter how old she gets! I love you, baby!

Learn more about this author, Kimberly Chitwood.
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