PARENTING August 8, 2005 Issue

NO FIRST-DAY BOOHOOING

MEG DENDLER

AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, many thousands of kids of all ages are getting ready to go back to school. For many of them, it's a breeze. For others, like our Callista starting kindergarten two years ago, a bit of an ordeal.

Everything had begun well. Right on time, Callista was beautifully dressed for her ever-so-special first day, her nails painted purple to match her favorite sundress, her Dora the Explorer backpack at her side. And there were a few minutes to spare in which to play and be silly with her sister.

As those minutes ticked away, I guess Callista got a bit nervous about her first encounter with a school bus and the thought of heading off to an unfamiliar place. Her sister, Amanda, called us to her. Callista was just standing there, looking pale and sick to her stomach. All she could say was, "The bus doesn't have seatbelts," and, "I'll miss you so much." Cozy reassurances about God's presence were to no avail. It was pretty clear that Callista suddenly wanted nothing to do with the bus ride or even going to school at all.