Gabriel woke up happily, anticipating his first day at school. Giggly with excitement, he went through his morning routine without a hiccup. Checked the boxes with ease:
Breakfast,
Brushed teeth,
Got dressed…
The day before, he said to his mom,
“…you know at school I have to run and play.
Because I have lots of energy!”
Yesterday, in France, marked “La Rentree,” Mandatory Preschool (starting at three years of age) up to University. Chelsea, Papioca, Martin, and Gabriel walked around the corner to his first day of the school alongside students who were doing the same thing all over France.
Gabriel knows the path to school as he has frequently walked past it on his way to the park’s playground. He hopped and skipped, gleefully holding his parent’s hands as they headed towards his new adventure.
But when he arrived with the multitude of parents and children entering the school, his eagerness suddenly turned a corner.
As Chelsea told me, he screamed, cried, threw himself to the ground, and had to be coaxed, held, and reassured… It was the exact opposite of his morning dreams.
…
Chelsea sent a video after his first day of school;
Chelsea asked Gabriel as he sat on her lap,
“How was school today?”
With exburence, he said, “Good!”
“Did you have fun?”
“Oui”
“How was lunch?”
“Good!”
“Did you like your teacher?”
"Oui!"
“Was she nice?”
“Oui!”
“How were the other children?”
“Good!”
“Wow! A perfect day huh?!”
His demeanor changed.
Chelsea said, “Were you a little bit sad this morning?”
“Ummm, pas trop.” (Not too bad.)
“Pas trop?”
And with that, he drew her attention to something on the table.
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