First Day of Preschool
by elizabeth janczyk
Your nervous baby teeth smile
In my rear view mirror.
Fine golden hair combed and dressed
In new red polo and khaki shorts with
A scratched-up knee and chubby toddler legs sticking out
Softly kicking the front passenger seat
With perfect pillowy feet
Stuffed in blue scuffed-up sneakers
From hours of outdoor free play.
But now it’s about new teachers, classrooms, and sharing.
You’re excited to go, but too scared to go in.
You’re ahead of the curve ‘ready’ so we do it anyway.
Brave little one, holding my hand and a toy car
I lead you inside, to white walls full of colorful art
And to stay for a while with
New friends and smiling faces.
Changes.
Suddenly, you’re on the cusp of boyhood.
Absorbing the world and to grow
Up a little bit more each time.
Promise I’ll always come back,
To take you back home.