First Day Of School

Is it possible to be happy and sad at the same time? Today is the first day of school and I am happy because I have the house to myself and I can do anything I want all day long. I am sad because the house is too quiet, and I miss hanging out with my boys.

I was thinking about some of the first days of school my boys have had over the past 12 years and one day stuck out in my mind. It was the year I had moved my oldest son to a different school when he was going into third grade. Of course he had the first day jitters, but they were exaggerated by the fact that he was going to be in a new school and not know anyone. I told him that it was okay to be a little nervous and that everything would be fine. He started crying and told me he wished I could be with him. My heart broke and I wanted to cry too. Instead, I thought for a minute and then found a bright shiny penny. I kissed it and gave it to my son and told him to put it into his pocket. Then I told him to rub it whenever he got scared and he would feel my love for him. This seemed to pacify him and he went off to school. A few days later, he made a new friend and when he came home from school he gave it back to me because he said he didn't need it anymore. Thank heavens for that penny, or we might not have made it through the first week of school!