And then...

she was Year 6. The final first day of primary school. More nerves than any first day back. She contemplated a wobble at the gate but went in fine. She walked part of the way home by herself - not as far as planned because I went to meet her nearer to school and took her for a walk on the way so we could chat as needed. She had a good day, took it all in her stride. She brushed off kids being unkind about her packed dinner. She looked after the girl who came to her and said she was lonely because she hasn't got any friends. She was delighted to be given the job of ringing the new class bell for breaks (because they have their own individual times per class now) so she gets to sit with the yellow bell on her desk every day!