Acadia’s First Day of School

Today was Acadia’s first day of school! She is attending a Catholic Dutch School and it’s free! Her class is ages 4-6. Yes, I cried on her first day of school, but not because she is growing up too fast, though…

Here is the story: We got up early, fed Acadia breakfast, packed her lunch and got her ready for school. Then we sat outside waiting for the bus. It was a cold, drizzly, windy morning, we sat there 30 minutes but the bus never came. Finally we decided we had to try to go by bike if we wanted to still get there, since the bus only comes one time each hour.

We had just bought our bike yesterday, and we have not yet been able to install the bike seat for her, so Acadia road dutch style sitting on the back with her feet in the cargo bags to help keep her from falling off. Soon I discovered that the bike was also in desperate need of a tune up. I felt like I could have walked just as fast as we were going on the bike. I was peddling as fast as I could and was still getting passed by the few people who were out, even older women who would never be out on a bike in the US. Soon it started raining more heavily so we stopped a minute to get Acadia’s umbrella open and then kept at it. The rain didn’t last too long but by this time we were both crying and Acadia had given up hope and was suggesting that we just go back home. (The last three days Acadia has not stopped asking if it was time to go to school yet! She has been so excited and couldn’t wait for this day to come! She is also very excited about her new school bag and lunch box and has brought them along with us everywhere we’ve gone this weekend.) I assured her we were getting closer and we kept going. We arrived only 5 minutes after class had started. I think the ride took 25 to 30 minutes, but felt like an eternity. Acadia joined the other 25 kids in her class. Her teacher, Esther, made her feel very welcome and special. Esther had a seat waiting for Acadia with her name card placed on the chair. They also had her name up on the screen in front, so that all the children could learn her name. I sat in on the class a few minutes and then went to turn in our paperwork and meet with the school director. Everyone was so kind! I rode back home, then sat on the couch with Adam and cried, I think mostly relieved that we had made it, but partly overwhelmed with the feelings that go along with being a mom on the side of the road in the rain with her shivering child. I am so thankful that we are well provided for and that this feeling is not a common occurrence!

Soon Adam went to drop the bike off to have it tuned up. He left early to go pick it up, but didn’t make it home until past the time I had planned to leave to go get Acadia. I had fallen asleep and awoke in a panic that we had barely enough time to get there before Acadia would be standing in line outside waiting to get picked up. Adam graciously went to get her on the bike (still with no seat attached for her). It was still VERY windy and was soon raining again. I spent the next 30 minutes walking around the apartment feeling sick to my stomach wondering if Acadia would have a parent there waiting for her when she was released from her first day of school. I also was praying my heart out that Adam would make it in time. He was there and despite the rain and wind on the way back, Acadia arrived home very happy. She very much enjoyed her first day at school. And we are doing this again first thing in the morning? Hopefully it will come easier tomorrow!