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The first day of school after a long summer break always feels like a big milestone for kids, and for parents, too. This year, it was extra special for our family because my son was stepping into Grade One. We were filled with excitement, pride, and a little nervousness.
Back in our home country, starting Grade One is celebrated like a festival. Families prepare special meals, relatives shower kids with blessings and sweets, and the whole atmosphere is festive. As immigrants in Canada, it’s not quite the same. The joy is still there, but the celebrations are quieter and mostly within the walls of our little home.
After weeks of late summer nights, waking up early was a challenge for my son. But to my surprise, he managed to wake up right on time. His little face still carried traces of sleepiness, yet the spark in his eyes showed how excited he was. To make the morning sweeter, we stopped by Tim Hortons and treated him to his favorite double chocolate donut. That small indulgence lit up his face with happiness.
He was both excited and nervous, wondering about his new teacher, making new friends, and reconnecting with his old kindergarten buddies. As parents, leaving him in the school line felt harder for us than for him. We even sneaked a quick peek into his classroom once he went inside, just to reassure ourselves that he would be okay. Watching him sit confidently in his new class made us believe he would have a wonderful day.
But when we got home, the silence hit us. The house felt empty without the usual loud voices, little fights, and endless questions. That’s when the reality of kids growing up really sinks in; you realize they are slowly building a world of their own.
When school was over and I picked him up, my curiosity was endless. I asked him about his new teacher, his classmates, and how his day went. Like most kids, he wasn’t too quick to share everything, but little by little, the stories came out.
Later in the evening, when we sat down for his study routine, we were working on three-digit addition. Suddenly, he said:
“Mom, you know what? I saw the unit, ten, hundred chart posted on the wall at school. I think it will be easy for me when we learn it in class because you already taught me this.”
That single sentence made my entire day. It was a proud parenting moment to realize that the time I’ve spent teaching him, despite all the challenges, is starting to make a difference. These small reassurances remind me why I keep going, balancing motherhood, teaching, and life’s daily responsibilities.
The first day of Grade One will always stay close to my heart, not because it was just a school day, but because it was a reflection of growth, change, and the little victories we celebrate as a family.
✨ Parenting takeaway: Every milestone, no matter how small, is worth celebrating. Whether it’s waking up on time, finding joy in a donut, or connecting classroom lessons to home learning, these little things are shaping our children’s journey in the most meaningful ways.
