dad's view

Jeff Shelby is a full-time author and a stay-at-home Dad. Jeff's mystery novels, Wicked Break and Killer Swell, have both appeared on the Los Angeles Times and Denver Post best-seller lists. He also serves as a writer/reviewer on the book site, MyShelf.com.

Diary of My Daughter’s First Day of Kindergarten

August 26, 2008

6:45am - Wake up wide awake. Why wouldn't I be? I didn’t sleep all night. My daughter starts kindergarten today.

7:00am - Go wake up daughter, who wakes up pretty easily and immediately remembers it is the first day of Big Kid School and is excited. Contemplate telling her that the idea of school has been abolished and she will be staying home with me for all eternity. Eventually decide against.

7:05am - Head downstairs for breakfast, which consists of a banana and a glass of milk for her. I am far too nervous to eat.

7:15am - Banana and milk are gone in record time. If anything tells us she is excited about kindergarten, the fact that she ate her breakfast without getting out of her chair forty seven times is concrete proof.

7:20am - Brush teeth. Because we "don’t want stinky teeth at Big Kid School."

7:25am - Get dressed in much-discussed, pre-selected First Day of School Outfit. She checks herself in the mirror and announces "I look sooooo cute."

7:30am - Mom does her hair in a half-pony. First Day of School Hair is far too important to let Dad handle the task. There are special pony holders and barrettes involved.

7:35am - She puts on her cool new shoes that match the outfit. Puts hands on her hips. "I'm ready!" I, sadly, am not.

7:40am - Break out the camera and take a few pictures of her standing by the door with her Disney Princess backpack. She smiles impatiently, glancing at her imaginary watch, afraid she will be late for the first day.

7:41am - Out the door for the short walk to school. I take a few more pictures as we walk. It seems as if there are children pouring out of every front door in the neighborhood.

7:48am - Arrive at school. Or, judging by the number of people clogging every entrance, the place that they are giving out free money.

7:53am - Arrive at table in cafeteria where her class meets. Notice all of the screaming, crying kids. Notice my child waving at everyone, thinking this is like one giant amusement park. I will seriously miss this kid every single minute she's not at home with me.

7:55am - Walk down the hallways toward her classroom. Today is the only day we'll be allowed to walk to her classroom. Tomorrow, we take her to the cafeteria and that's it. Walk very slllloooowwwwwllllyyyy.

7:58am - Arrive at classroom. Daughter charges straight to her locker and puts away her backpack, then finds a table with two other girls to sit at. She needs no help in doing this. Take a few more pictures.

8:00am - Teacher announces that it's time for parents to leave. I kiss, hug and high-five my daughter after my wife does the same. She is literally bouncing in her seat she is so excited. I am not excited. I am sad. Happy, but sad.

8:10am - Arrive back home and wife leaves for work. Why is it so quiet in here?

8:11am to 2:40pm - Pace a lot. Check email. Drive by school twice, ostensibly to get gas and go to the store, but really to make sure there are no thugs waiting to harm my child. Attempt to go swim laps, but learn pool is closed. Check cell phone thirty seven times for messages. Eat a sandwich. Clean the kitchen. Check the clock. It doesn't seem to be working as the day is dragging. Make bed. Pick up living room and bedroom. Talk to dogs. Wonder if she's having fun. Attempt to write, but can't concentrate. Eat some crackers. Attempt to read, but can't concentrate. Pace some more.

2:41pm - Tear out the front door and attempt not to run anyone over as I try to be first to the flagpole to meet her class.

2:43pm - Third!!!

2:49pm - Why aren't they coming out? Where are they? What's happening? Why is kindergarten so hard???

2:50pm - First group of kindergarteners emerges from the building. I don't see my daughter's teacher or my daughter. THEY SAID 2:50PM!!!!

2:56pm - I see her teacher and try to nonchalantly stroll up to the pick-up area. Daughter waves and I may have inadvertently elbowed a few people to get to her.

2:57pm - She hands her teacher her stick with her name on it – so her teacher knows she's been picked up – teacher smiles and waves at me and daughter walks over to me. "How was it?: I ask, not sure what response I’m looking for. "AWESOME!" she says, grabbing my hand. "I LOVE kindergarten!!! I wanna go back tomorrow!!!"

2:58pm - Resign myself that I've moved on to a new stage of parenting.