I couldn't be more proud, oh my goodness! My heart nearly burst today with love for this darling daughter of mine! Kajal was so excited about going to school that she could barely sleep last night. She must have tried to shove every last colored pencil she had into her backpack or in her words 'packpack'. This morning she flew out of bed, was dressed in her uniform in minutes and was happily eating rice, cereal and her first ever waffle. Walking to school she was bursting with excitement and practically flew up the stairs. We handed the Principal, Sister Eileen a drawing she had done for her then gave her teacher Mrs. Walsh pages of both Indian and English Alpahabets as well as numbers in both languages (all of this she did last night when it finally hit her she really was going back to school). When we entered the classroom, Kajal quitely sat at her desk, gazed in awe at the Dora coloring book the teacher gave her then pulled out a blank note pad and quickly started writing her letters. All the other children came in and slowly introduced themselves, they were so kind and curious. As they played, she worked away.. diligent and serious and school hadn't even begun! There were no tears for this little one, she was truly ready to start her education so I waved goodbye and left the school, in tears mind you. I tried to focus on work but my head kept wandering to how she was doing, what was she doing now? etc.. I checked my voice mails for calls from the school but all remained quiet. At lunch I went back to the school to give her medicine and was prepared to bring her home in case the day was too much... unnecessary. She took her medicine in one swig, grabbed the little packet of sugar I'd brought for her, smiled shyly and let me know without words that she was more than fine, she was happy. Off she went until 2 PM when I returned to pick her up and bring her home... the whole way she was bursting with pride. She kept hitting her chest and saying, Me School, Me Teacher, Me Paper.... she was sooooo happy and proud. Okay, so I had tears in my eyes the whole way home. This was what it was all about... these moments! This is what I dreamed about when I dreamed of being a mother, holding my child's hand as we walk home from school hearing about her day. So what if it's in a different language... the smile was universal!