I couldn’t pretend to be calm, not even a bit.
We are all ready, the lunches are packed
My child is as big as her full-size knapsack.
My daughter woke up excited, got out of bed
While visions of her new friends danced in my head.
Will there be a bully? Will the teacher and kids be nice?
How long will it take before she comes home with lice?
Facebook and Pinterest, have artisan lunches and snacks
but I’m sending a sandwich and I’m fine with that.
I’ll pack all the food groups, though back in my day
it was sugar with sugar and we turned out okay.
Thinking about grade school when I was a kid
I don’t recall washing my hands before eating, though maybe I did
then I’d wrap a sugary fruit roll up around a finger
and lick it all recess just let it linger.
But I’m sending healthy snacks as was requested
Will they get eaten or go undigested?
I picked out a first day outfit, that she wouldn’t wear
then put pigtails in her fine hair.
I reminded her to introduce herself with her name
to not get upset if she loses a game,
to be friendly and kind and have lots of fun.
I put her in sneakers, so that she can easily run.
I gave a hug and a kiss and tried to keep my cool
though my emotions rose a bit, as I left her at school
to my surprise, I didn’t shed one tear.
Happy first day to all, and to all a good year!