Our Firstborn's First Day of School

Today was a day that we had both been dreading and eagerly anticipating at the same time. It was our firstborn child's first day of school.

Around 2 years ago, we unsuccessfully tried to get him adjusted to 2 mornings a week of childcare at a nursery school just down the street from our place. It never worked, as he would scream whenever we tried to leave him. He was just under 2 years ago at that time.

We've been working hard to prepare him for this day. My wife, in particular, has focused on this. Steps have included potty training, as well as a number of different books about starting school.

We interviewed the principal at 2 different schools and got a good feeling about the one less convenient to get to, while have some worries about the one very close to our apartment. Since this is his first experience in school, as well being immersed in French, we wanted this year to be a positive one for him. We also prayed a lot about this. In the end, he was accepted in this semi-private school.

I walked him in his stroller this morning to his new school. He was quiet and focused on the trip, hardly touching the bread in his hand. I knew it would be alright when we got to his classroom and he ran in and got on a bouncy horse. I met his new teacher, who seems like a bubbly and kind woman. While I waited in the room a little bit longer, he went to different play stations.

After I got home, our daughter seemed to be moping around. Even though our son bugs her and takes away her toys sometimes, she missed him. My wife admitted that this day was emotionally draining for her. I guess that this is one of those maternal, cutting of the umbilical cord type of experiences.

We all went by car to pick him up later in the morning. When my wife went to get him, he was riding on the back of a bike with another boy. He didn't hesitate go leave. But he apparently did well today. His teacher told him in French that she wouldn't speak to him in English. So we expect his French to take off, although it will be tiring for him to be immersed in French.

On the way home, he started saying in rhythmic fashion "To know, to do." We're not sure where he got this, but he has said it at other times in recent weeks. We hope that his education helps him "know" things ("savoir") and "do" things ("savoir faire""). But we also hope that his education helps him to "be" ("savoir être",) and to "become" ("savoir devenir." May he develop godly character and integrity.

Legendary college basketball coach John Wooden said, "Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation, because your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are." [John Wooden, They Call Me Coach (Waco: Word, 1972), p. 64.