First Grade

Meet your typical First Grader.

Hi! My Name is Olivia Love and I’m in First Grade. Yup, I said it First Grade. No longer a Kindergartner who sucks their thumb, sitting criss cross apple sauce. I’mma big girl now. I don’t have to be told to sit on a mat full of creepy animals or to share my animal cookies with Lucy or to sing the song with all the letters. I’m the boss now.

I can make my own dinner,

pick my own clothes,

and sit wherever I wanna.

No more triangle peanut butter and jellies. No more hair with ballies and the clip at the end.  No more “put hand on hips and finger on lips”. No more letter songs! No more Kyle as line leader. No more sitting in a circle. No more- 

She suddenly pauses staring at the doll she was about to put away and begins to panic.

No more………..toys? No more…… nap time? No more stories? They can’t take away my toys. What about nap time, or Miss. Horsey . I like all the stories. I like the princess stories the best. They can’t take that too!”

After perceiving a dreadful outcome of becoming a First Grader, she runs desperately down the hallway towards her parents’ bedroom, yelling “MOMMY! DADDY!”

Despite the fact that they are sleeping, she cries out once more to awaken them.

With their slumber disturbed, they find their worried daughter, dressed in bunny pajamas, clutching onto Miss. Horsey for dear life. Seeing that Olivia Love was in such distress, her mother got out of bed to console her, “What’s wrong honey and why are you still awake? It’s way past your bedtime.” Her mother asks concernedly.

Olivia Love drops to the floor at her mother’s feet, pleading into tears.“I was getting ready for school tomorrow, but Mommy, I don’t wanna be a First Grader, or give up all my toys or nap time. I still want stories and sleep with Miss. Horsey. I’ll sing the letter song. I’ll share cookies with Lucy. I’ll wear ballies again. Tell me you won’t take away Miss. Horsey. Please don’t take away Miss. Horsey!”

Her mother bends down to her sobbing daughter, putting one hand on her little head and bringing her close to her bosom. “Hey there, baby girl. Being in First Grade doesn’t mean you have to give anything up.” She assures in a soothing voice.

“I don’t?” Olivia Love asks in a small voice with wide, watery eyes looking up at her mother.

“Of course you don’t. You can keep all your toys, especially Miss Horsey. I know you have nap time in school, but the teacher called and now nap time has a new time and place. You get to take it at home right after school in your own bed. How do you like that?” Her mother improvises, hoping it would calm her.

Olivia Love’s eyes light up with glee. “No more hard mats.” she whispers to herself.

“And what about the stories?” she continues to ask.

“That has a new time too. Right before bed.” Her mother confirms. “Would you like me to read you a bedtime story?

Olivia Love nods ecstatically, with a big smile running across her face.

Her mother gets up off the floor, takes Olivia Love by the hand, and walk her back to her room, where she can pick out the story to read to her overexerted daughter.

“How about this one?” She asks holding up a book filled with fairies.

“No, Mommy.” Olivia objects. “That one.” Pointing to the book about princesses.

Why of course. Her mother thinks as she exchanges the fairy book for the princess book. But when she looks back she sees Olivia already fast asleep in her bed cuddling Miss. Horsey tight.

She places the book back on the shelf and walks over to her little girl, pulls the covers over her small shoulders and tucks her in.

“Awe, Mommy’s baby girl.” she whispers as her delicate fingers caresses her daughter’s gentle face, leaving a lasting kiss on her forehead.

Amid walking to the door to turn off the light, she wishes Olivia Love a Good Night.

*****

“So what happened?” Her husband asks when she makes it back to her bedroom.

“She was just anxious about her first day of First Grade tomorrow.” she answers. “She really tired herself out this time. I was going to read her a bedtime story, but she completely fell asleep before I could even open to the first page.”

“That’s our Olivia Love for you.” He acknowledges. “If she’s so worried about that, she’ll definitely be worried about having a new baby around the house.”

“I haven’t even thought about that. I hope she won’t be too anxious about her first baby brother.” She concerns as she looks down at the bulge forming in her stomach. “When should we tell her?”

“After First Grade of course.” He jokes, leaving them to end their late night with nothing less than amusement and laughter.

---

Credits:

Gallery

Olivia’s Bedroom : “POKÓJ DZIEWCZENCY”, by EwelinaNatalia

Olivia’s Parents’ Bedroom: “SLEEPROOM/SCHLAFZIMMER”, by Sanjel2009

Olivia’s Parents: “BAUGHMAN”, by meg123227

Custom Content

Olivia’s Pajamas: “Bunny Pajamas”, by minicart