Emily awoke with a flutter in her heart. Today was her first day of preschool, and the air seemed to buzz with excitement. María, her mother, was already in the kitchen, preparing a comforting breakfast of warm oatmeal with honey. The aroma wafted through the house, mingling with the morning freshness. "Good morning, mamá," Emily chirped, her voice tinged with both eagerness and a hint of nervousness. "Buenos días, mi amor," María replied warmly, setting a bowl in front of her daughter. "Are you ready for your big day?"
Emily nodded, her curls bouncing as she did. Yet, María sensed her daughter's apprehension as she stared at the calendar. To ease her worries, María picked up a pen and gently took Emily's hand. "Let's draw something special," María said, sketching small hearts on Emily's palm. "One for papá, one for abuela, and one for me. Whenever you feel scared, just kiss them, and you'll know we're with you." Emily watched intently, her fears slowly melting away with each stroke of the pen.
Hand in hand, Emily and María stepped out into the world. The journey to preschool was short but filled with wonder. María began to sing, "You are going to have a great day today. Your going to have so much fun, Hooray!" Her voice light and joyful, a melody that skipped along with their footsteps. "Sing with me, mi amor," she encouraged. Emily joined in, her small voice blending with her mother's, each note carrying her further from fear and closer to excitement.
As they approached, Emily's grip on her mother's hand tightened. The sight of other children laughing and playing tugged at her curiosity, yet her feet hesitated at the threshold.
"Remember the hearts," María whispered, kneeling to Emily's level. "You are never alone."
Emily kissed each heart, feeling the courage flow through her like a gentle river.
Emily took a deep breath and stepped inside. Her eyes widened as she saw the art supplies and storybooks. A friendly teacher approached, her smile as warm as the morning sun.
Ms. Johnson, the teacher, knelt down to greet Emily. "Hello, Emily! We're so happy you're here," she said, offering a reassuring pat on the back.
Emily returned the smile, feeling the warmth of home even in this new place.
Later, during playtime, Emily found herself surrounded by new friends. They built castles in the sandbox, each grain of sand a building block for friendships yet to come. Carlos, a lively boy with a wide grin, handed her a toy shovel. "Wanna help dig for treasure?" he asked. "Sure!" replied Emily, her earlier fears now distant memories as she embraced her new adventure.
