first day of school

Whether they just turned 4 and are starting preschool, or are young adolescents about to experience emotional and physical transitions, the first day of school is always a special moment for children and parents. Documenting this day every year helps me let go of all feelings of anxiety and fear, and just bask in gratitude, hope and pride.

How about you? Do you capture the first day of school of your kids? If yes, share your image with us today. And if you're not a parent, please share a story of one of your first days of school in the comment section below. (On my first day of school, I forgot my bag at home. Almost 30 years later, I still wake up in sheer panic in the middle of the night the day before school starts!)

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Comments

[Toshiba pa3457u-1BRS akku]

On my first day of school,I go to school without a companion.I am afraid. I had no one to go abroad far from home.

[Roxanne]

What a sweet question... I am not a mother, but I still remember the horror of when I got a boy haircut around the age of 7 or 8. I did not look or feel like myself and was embarrassed to even go to school. I even put a bow on my almost hairless head so my new classmates would know that I'm a girl. I'm chuckling as I remember this...

[Ana Eugenio]

I don't have many memories of my school days. I was very shy and children can be pretty mean. I remember I used to sit on a tree, talking to myself, on the playground. I changed school many times, it just happened that way, so I don't have friends from that time.

[Doris]

Oh, I can't wait to see everyone's photos for this topic.

My contribution is a Diptych of my daughter, one photo on her first day of kindergarten and another photo on her last day of high school. It's amazing how fast they grow up.

http://dorisrudddesigns.wordpress.com/2010/06/02/kindergarten-high-school/

[Heather]

I have no real specific memory of the first day of school, just very strong general feelings of excitement and glee :)

[Emma]

No specific memories of any given time, I just remember feeling nervous, excited and hopeful at the start of primary school, high school and uni - didn't matter whether I was 5 or 18, those feelings were still the same.

And actually, as an adult starting a new job can invoke those same feelings!

[lifeineden]

Here are my twins on their first official day of preschool
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32837589@N07/6076847945/in/photostream

[JC]

first day of pre-K for the little one while the older one was a few weeks into K:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justycinmd/6133616047/in/photostream

[Barbara]

From my photo on Flickr on Sept 7, 2011: Today, my son started 4th grade at a new school. I couldn't sleep last night and this morning, as he walked away from me, I got all teary-eyed. I will feel scattered and nervous all day until I see his beautiful, brave face this afternoon. Letting go is the hardest thing ever.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50654891@N07/6125667271/

[Kellie]

I had a love/hate relationship with school - I was extremely shy and always found it hard to face a new crowd of people every year, but I loved books and learning and most especially paper and brand new supplies!!!

[Jenny Rebecca]

Here is my daughter's "first day of school" taken during the third week of school, lol.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fanglord2/6145528007/in/photostream
We were extremely jet-lagged on her real first day after returning at midnight the night before from a 2 hour time zone difference.

[cathy @ ma vie trouvee]

I loved the first day of school because we always got new crayons!

[Renae]

My older son just started preschool last week. He seems so big and so little at the same time.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/theopuses/6131067878/in/photostream

[Shawna]

My daughter has started Senior Kindergarten this year! I have pics (of course!), though not posted yet.

I think I always liked going back to school and seeing friends and classmates again. I grew up in the country so there was that two-month span every summer when I essentially saw no one outside my family.

[Melissa]

I take first day pics every year at school, but did a special shoot with my Kindergarten this year: http://melissamillerphotos.com/2011/08/kindergarten-rocks/

[Bridget [aviary]]

this year was an extra special school year for our family--one child just entering high school and another one just beginning her journey with Pre-K. Thank you for the opportunity to share:

http://aviaryimagescanvas.blogspot.com/2011/09/daily-snapshoton-first-day-of-school.html

[Trishb.]

I sent my son, who is in the autism spectrum to his first day of high school. Socially, he struggles. He walked to his first day of highschool alone. Talk about courage, mine and his. My hope for him as he left the house was that just one person would reach out to him. Turns out that a group of girls (the pretty, popular girls) called out to him, and asked if he wanted to walk with them. I will never forget their kindness. It was a small thing, but it made a huge difference in my son's first day.

[cheris]

First grade, with her brother a blur in the background, trying, as usual, to catch up: http://www.flickr.com/photos/liffords/6069808353/in/photostream

[Chelsea]

I always was so excited for the first day of school. A nervous excitement though. I would get a little antsy in the last few months of summer, and had a blast picking out all the new school supplies! I have a picture (not on my computer to share unfortunately) my mom took of me on my first day of preschool. I have a bright blue and pink dress on, hair in pigtails with pink ribbons, sitting on the stairs of our house with a huge smile on my face :)

[shirley]

I always picked out a new outfit to wear, and laid it out the previous night. I could never sleep the night before.

My kids are growing up too fast - now in HS and Middle School, but I still have pics from their first day of Kindergarten...

http://www.shirleybehindthelens.com/2011/08/day-of-firsts.html

My Daughter has the same turquoise backpack as yours in the picture - so fun!

[Kimberly]

Look at that smile!

http://kjbehavior.blogspot.com/2011/08/august-break-day-15.html

[Jen]

I feel the same "pressure" as most parents to capture that first day of school, to preserve that moment when your child is setting off to something new! Now if I could just find the time to get those pics from a few weeks ago off my camera and onto my computer...

[anngeedee]

My son, his first day of Kinder.... http://www.flickr.com/photos/anngeedee/6072940864/in/photostream

[joey]

This kid has been helping me take his big brother to preschool his whole life. Today is was finally his turn to stay and play.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/19379573@N06/6150982084/in/photostream

[Gail]

I always loved the excitement of the first day of school when I was young and hoped i instilled that in my daughters. I took their pictures on the first day of school every year and now my eldest is taking pictures of her children on the first day of school...I was there when the school bus dropped off my grandson at the end of his first day in first grade:)
http://threeos.blogspot.com/2011/09/6-september.html

[ktbuffy]

First day of first grade!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ktbuffy/6056354496/in/set-72157627456050611

[beth]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65102482@N04/6150581491/in/photostream

The first day of high school. It feels like such a milestone. But It's all passing by in such a blur.

[Deirdre]

Last year was their first year in school after homeschooling their whole lives. Last year I was way too busy getting them ready to take a photo. I made sure it happened this year, but this was the first time: http://www.flickr.com/photos/superdewa/6123400593/

[Cheryl T.]

My son started a new school last week. It's been quite a smooth transition and I am so happy that's enjoying himself. He switched from a Montessori elementary to a traditional school. I am over the moon happy that he loves the school. Lucky us and him!

[Denise H.]

The night before my first day day of Jr. High I was sleeping in my little sisters room as our grandparents were visiting and using my room. I had been asleep when noises in the kitchen woke me up. So I jumped in the shower to get ready for school and before I fired up the hair dryer my mom was knocking on the door asking me what I was doing? I answered "getting ready for school".. she informed me that it was 11:45 PM and I was to go back to bed. That was 30 years ago and the memory always makes me smile.

[Michelle]

I don't remember much about the first day of school other than being hot from overdressing in my new fall clothes...and maybe coming home and covering my new books...

My four and final child started full-day Kindergarten this year....my only daughter. She was so ready to go. She has no concept yet of clothing labels and unfortunately gets her fashion sense from me. My good friend came over and gave her a 'princess hairdo' with little clips. I knew that pertty hair-do wouldn't last.

Here she is before the bus took her...smiling sweetly and put together

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29333822@N07/6151635688/

And her she is after she got off the bus....smiles galore and a total mess

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29333822@N07/6151086343/

It was a great start!!

[Heather]

They didn't want the summer to end but were full of smiles before getting on the bus.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/htekmo/6122105099/in/photostream

[Radish]

My granddaughter is interviewing me for a class project and she wanted photos. Here is my photo on my blog.

www.day2dayradishes.squarespace.com

[beth]

my kids are out of the house, but lucky for me, i'm surrounded by neighbors who all have "first day of school" kids. i looked out my window, after the first day of school and these photos are what i saw......


http://moredoors.blogspot.com/2011/09/homework.html

[Christina]

what a great photo! school goes on in our home, but yes of course, i surely take photos of the first day. many of my afternoons are for going over papers and lesson plans... and a bit of me time too.
; )
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22136020@N04/6150669865/?reuploaded=1

[jordanair2011]

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http://www.jordanair2011.com

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[kleidung shop]

Last year was their first year in school after homeschooling their whole lives. Last year I was way too busy getting them ready to take a photo. I made sure it happened this year, but this was the first time:

[mama-pan | mary frances]

my older son usually resists first-day photos but this year he got into the spirit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/98076237@N00/6148340621/in/photostream

[Valerie]

Going off to preschool for the very first time...
http://journeyleaf.typepad.com/journeyleaf/2011/09/preschool.html

[Dotti]

My granddaughter started her second year of preschool last week and of course, I was on hand to take photos. This is only one of several:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48337138@N04/6125253743/

I also posted about this time of year on my blog:

http://www.camperky.com/2011/09/time-in-a-bottle.html

[Kathy Winter]

My, they grow up fast! I can't believe my little one is a 2nd grader now.

http://kathycaptureslife.wordpress.com/2011/08/25/back-to-school/

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