The First Day of School

It's early August and the kids are back at school.

 I think school should start after Labor Day, but my opinion was irrelevent, 

even when I was President of the School Board.

And so, today, Moms and Dads

and grandparents

 and uncles stood in line 

and sat at the tables

 and perched papers on their laps

 as they registered their youngsters for school.  

Some of the scholars were independent enough to seek their own answers.

Some needed a strong grip on Mom's hand to get through the front door.

Can you see the sticker on her right shoulder?

Gramma Suzi brought them, as always, to brighten a scary morning.

The grown-ups got them, too.

That way, when they missed their kids they could rub the sticker and feel the love.

Funny, the magic works for kids missing their moms, too.

A quick rub, and all is well..... at least, that's what I promised them.

The wait was long, especially when there were a lot of kids to sign in.

Big brothers were good care takers of those too little to walk down the halls.

 But the clock told us it was time to find the classrooms, and the kids were on their own.

I wandered into the Teachers' Lounge, looking for staff who needed stickers, 

and I found this.

See the name on that middle shelf?

I'm on the team.

I'm official.

I'm thrilled.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again:

It's impossible to be sad when I'm surrounded by little ones.