When Lexi crossed the threshold onto the school bus this morning, it was momentous. Not necessarily for her since she rode the bus last year or even because it’s the first day of second grade. While Lexi is excited at seeing friends again and having a teacher who is known for her mad math-teaching skills, she has indicated that the first day is “no big deal” since she knows what to expect-same bus route, same Hello Kitty book bag and lunchbox, same principal and the same expectation that there will be pizza on Wednesdays in the cafeteria.

But that small step onto the bus was a long-time coming for me. It was the first time I have seen Lexi off to school on her first day. My husband was the one who took her into daycare when she was one as I anxiously waited by the phone at work to hear how it went. I reasoned that being present would just bring more emotion and more tears than was needed.

It was also my husband who accompanied her on her first day of Montessori preschool when she was three. I learned later that she was so nervous that the teacher’s assistant had to carry her into school like an infant. There was a training at work that I was facilitating, and, rationally, I knew that I was needed at work more than I was needed in the driveway of the school.

I was out of town on the first day of kindergarten when Tripp walked her down the green hallway to her classroom. She told me that afternoon over the phone that she had twins in her classroom that didn’t look alike and that she already knew who was going to be a bully during the year. Lexi didn’t really seem bothered by the fact that I had not been present on her “first days.”

But I was and decided to remedy that this year. No more hearing about her experiences second-hand with a time delay. Logically, I should be in the office today. I have been on the road for work for the past three weeks. Some people are beginning to question whether I’m still employed with the frequency of my “out of office” email responses. These next three months are the busiest time of the year for us-on par with tax season for many CPAs and attorneys. Tuesdays are especially crucial because of our staff meetings, and we haven’t all been together for this meeting in over a month. And I’m well rested with yesterday being Labor Day.

I should be at work. But I’m not. I took the day off so I could hold Lexi’s hand at the bus stop and watch her take that step onto the bus. And this afternoon, for the first time, I will be the first one gets to listen to all the details about what she likes and doesn’t like about second grade, who she sat by during lunch, how she got her feelings hurt and how she didn’t like that we kept the crust on her sandwich.

Empirically, I'm not sure there is any quantifiable data linking a mom's presence on the first day of school with a child's joy, peace of mind or effectiveness in school. But before we left the house, Lexi said, "Mommy, I'm so excited you get to be with me!"

Maybe not the same as walking on the moon for the first time, but the feeling is pretty darn close for this mom.