Firsts and lasts...we all have 'em...all the time. I am immersed in the Lucy Calkins "Units of Writing" right now, with my 4th graders. I read in one of the manuals about haveing kids write personal narrative about he first time they did something as a good way to tap into their ability, and peak their interest, to write. Lasts could work too, but let's face it, kids lives are just chock full of firsts. They happen for us as well, but as adults we need to work a little harder to notice them. I mean, we live vicariously through the firsts of our children for sure, but what of OUR firsts as we get older?

Well, perhaps due to the work I am doing with my class, I was just more midful of my morning, but I, most certainly, had a first today. Offered a ride in, Devin chose to take the bus to school as is his normal routine. Gwynn rode in early with me, for Beginning Band. We got to school around 7:35, and I was in my classroom, alone, by 7:40. I sat there for a moment, arranged my desk, booted up my computer and checked my email, and then sat back and just took the moment in. I was ALONE. It was QUIET.

I took a lot of years of maternity leave for a while. Sometimes people will mention Middle School or High School kids that I don't know, and I attribute it to my "lost years." I had Devin in March '98. Took off all of '98-'99. Then I had Gwynn in March '01 and took off through February of '03. (That also was the winter we didn't work a full week of work from like Feb - May due to snow...but that is another story!) Since returning to work in '03, I have always had a kid in tow. That is 7 years, and don't get me wrong, my kids are good, and occupy themselves when they are in my classroom during the "off hours," but to be alone was truly a first. I got a lot accomplished, I listened to a CD as I worked, I sipped my coffee. I actually had the fleeting thought that MAYBE the morning is a nice time. Perhaps it is not a bad thing to get up earlier in the morning for a few moments of peace and quiet. Maybe, in our busy lives, that is one of the few ways to attain some.

Regardless of the learning involved, I fully and completely enjoyed my first today.