The day has finally arrived. My oldest child starts school this week. Sure, it’s only preschool, and sure, it’s only two hours a day. But for the first time since Wes and I were high school students (centuries ago), the first day of school means something to the Faulk family. Sigh.

One of the best tools we’ve used to prepare Ana for this big change in her life is the book Llama Llama Misses Mama . We love the Llama Llama books, and we were given a copy of this one last spring. I had no idea what it was even about until we started reading it together for the first time, and I had to wipe a tear or two away while Ana cheered. (Someone is not a bit sad at all about this milestone!)

At the beginning of the book, Mama drops Baby Llama off at a mysterious place he’s never visited before. There are many other children (okay, so they’re animals) there, all of them playing and making plenty of noise. Baby Llama holds back from the rest of the group, even crying at one point because he so misses Mama. After some encouragement from his teacher, though, he begins playing with the other children and is so caught up in the excitement that Mama’s return comes before he’s expecting it. He then takes Mama on a tour of his new school, and they share a sweet moment together.

Ana and I have gone through this book, talking about all of the fun things she’ll do at her school, discussing how she’s to listen to her teacher, and anticipating that exciting first day. But perhaps the most important part of the story for Ana has been the ending. As she told me not too long ago, “When I go to school, I will not be sad because you will come back to pick me up after I have played!” And I will.

Are you looking forward to the start of a new school year?