My Not First Day of School
Today is my first Not First Day of School. It's 9:24 am on the first day of school, and I am not there. I can clearly picture each moment of how the day would be going so far. Downstairs the kids would have met me to line up. One or two would eagerly find spots at the front, and look up at me with awe and excitement. At least one would slowly eke their way towards the line away from their caregiver. They might give a shy smile to a friend, but otherwise they'd remain silent. As my class grew in size, their excitement at reuniting with friends would grow and the nervous energy of the first day of school would course through us. After waiting a good five or ten minutes, I would take my first opportunity to exude authority. I'd give loud, clear, yet warm directions for how we would move up the stairs to our classroom. At the classroom door, I would explain how we'd enter the classroom - "You can give a hug, a handshake, a fist bump, or a wave," - and ask a st
