First day of school....

The cutest locker at school... sporting all her cousins and family!

Sob, weep....

Madison started first grade today. My system has been in shock all day and I am counting down the minutes until I get to pick her up. I have stressed about this day for the last 2 years. FULL DAY school, in big girl undies, with a meal at school and new (hopefully not mean) kids. I have run through all of the "what if" scenarios in my head. What if she has an accident, what if she has to go in a pull-up, what if kids laugh at her if either of the above happen. UUGGHHH... being a parent is miserably complicated.

So I will just trust and pray. Mostly pray!

This morning Madison was so excited. She came bounding down the stairs saying "first day of school, first day of school" in true NEMO fashion! I think the locker thing is what she is most excited about. We opted to put her in the public school this year as we felt that it would be a better fit for her. Having a school nurse seemed necessary at this point as I can not be available 24/7 in case there is a problem. She is a huge music and sports buff and we feel that she needed that exposure as these are areas that we can really help her boost her self esteem as it is lacking in other areas due to her health issues and lastly ...the teacher seemed to be a GREAT fit!!

What a big girl she is. I am so proud of her I could burst! What a difference a few years can make. I really question last year if this moment would ever be possible for her.

A FEW HOURS LATER: OK she is home. She survived. Nothing horrible happened, no one shoved her in a locker or tripped her in the lunch room. The teacher did not swim off with her to the "drop-of" (again, true NEMO style!) There was no first grade bully and she actually said it was so much fun she can't remember what she did??? A comment like this in high school would have made my car do u-turn to the closest clinic for a blood draw and drug test, but as a first grader I will believe that pure excitement has left her memory a little foggy. I got a few details out of her on the way home. I told her I was worried about her all day and she asked "why" ( for all of you thinking, "well that's great make her think there is something to be worried about"...shut-up. This was hard for me!) I told her that it was just really hard to have her gone all day and I missed her. To that she answered " mom, your just gonna have to get over it. I'm big now" I thought about grounding her for being so mean and heartless...but then I realized she is right, I need to grow up because she has. This is a huge milestone and I will except it and be happy!

As we walked in the door I suggested that we go get dad in his office and talk about her first day of school... she replied "mom, I just need to watch one cartoon. I am so exhausted"! So she is watching a cartoon, coming out of schoolcoma. I will keep you posted as the days continue! Thanks for your prayers!!!