The Daily Hailey

I am SO relived.

The kids, Brady, and I picked up Dekker and Laela after their first day of school. Again, my heart was gutted to not go in and receive them myself, reconnect with their teachers, etc. But I waited outside like I was supposed to, and sure enough, out they came! I didn’t take pictures because I was a little overcome.

Laela was out first, and I attacked her with hugs! I took her mask off her face and smooched her good and proper. She giggled and took my harassment as the love that it was. She was SO happy, and I was SO relieved. She told me she liked her teacher and her classroom and the kids around her. (She only met one of her two teachers today, but she knows them a bit from when Dekker had them in grade two, and she feels totally comfortable with them both. As you’ve probably put together, Laela is not mandated to wear masks, but in solidarity with Dekker, I asked her to wear one and see how it went. She surprised me by saying she easily, happily wore her mask all day long with ZERO issue. I was SO impressed! When I asked her if it bothered her at all, she kind of widened her eyes and shrugged at me, like it was preposterous. Lol! I secretly loved it, even though there was some snark mixed in there. I was SO happy.

As we were greeting Laela, Dekker surfaced. I went for him, too, pulled his mask off and smooched him a bunch. He was SO much happier this afternoon than he seemed this morning. He was really happy, and he said he had a really nice first day back! He was happy to be back with the same teacher from last year (She taught a split last year, and now is teaching his grade, so win!) and to see his friends that he was really hoping were in his class. When I asked him about the mask, he told me very clearly that it had been absolutely no problem. Hadn’t bothered him at all. Again. SO relieved!

I could’ve cried at pickup, but I resisted, lol! Sometimes, I just get SO overwhelmed by how proud of my kids I feel, and then I almost feel guilty that it surprises me how well they do. They are beautiful children, in the face and in the heart. I am SO thrilled with how their first day went.

To my teacher friends, I see you, and I thank you. Not only are the students and parents feeling so uncertain, but I know you are, too. None of us know whats to come, but in the daytime, it is on your shoulders to reassure and comfort our children, and that is a tough gig. You are appreciated out the wazoo, more than ever before. I say again, I see you, and I thank you. So do my children.