Mila sat cross-legged on her bed, gaze glued to the calendar. Each morning, she eagerly added another X, counting down until her first day at basisschool. The room buzzed with excitement, but a flutter of nerves danced in her chest as she imagined what awaited her.

Mama, with soft eyes and gentle hands, buttered Mila’s toast as they talked about school. "You’ll have so many chances to play, Mila. And the teachers are very kind," she assured her. "What if I can’t find my classroom or I forget something important?" Mila wondered aloud, her fingers tracing the colorful photos in the brochure.

As Mila closed her eyes, her imagination whisked her away. She saw herself laughing with new friends, creating masterpieces with paint and clay. The playground was enormous and bright, and though everything was unfamiliar, it felt like a place where adventures could begin.

Mila carefully packed her favorite pencils, a snack, and her lucky marble. "You’re ready for anything now," Mama smiled, tucking the checklist into the side pocket. "I think I can do it. I’m a little scared—but mostly excited," Mila admitted, squeezing her backpack’s straps.

"Being brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared. It means you’re excited to try something new, even if you’re a little nervous," Mama said, wrapping an arm around Mila. "I can’t wait to make new friends and learn games and stories. I wish the days would go faster!" Mila beamed.

Mila whispered to herself, "Just two more months, and then the adventure begins." The thought of new friends, fun games, and exciting activities filled her dreams as she drifted to sleep. Tomorrow, she would mark another X, one step closer to her big adventure.