Chapter 1

Changing things a little for the summer since Lilly is busy enjoying her summer vacation. I thought I'd start a little novel of my daughter's adventures in her point of view. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1:
Today was the first day of first grade. I was so nervous and excited, no more baby games, no more arts and crafts learning...I was entering an official school grade! Last year I had to work on keeping my hands to myself so my mom had me chant 'no hugs, no kisses' as she drove me all the way to school. I don't know what the big deal was with giving love, but she said that the school is a NO LOVE zone. How can anything be a NO LOVE zone? Everything should be based on love, I thought.

My teacher's name was Mrs. Walton, she was almost as short as all of the kids in her class. I thought she had very pretty yellow, white and brown short hair. She spoke to us in a very serious way and told us she expected us to know what the 2nd graders knew by the middle of the school year. I hope she realized we needed to learn the 1st grade stuff first. Oh, and she also told us she was having a baby! I LOVE babies!! I cannot wait to feel it kick!

Most of my friends from kindergarten were in my 1st grade class. I was so excited to see everyone that I forgot the no hugs and no kisses rule. During reading circle I held Annabelle's hand the whole way through without being told keep my hands to myself. After recess I just had to hug Bella but just as we went for the embrace Mrs Walton reminded me of the NO LOVE rule. So I decided to start chanting 'no hugs, no kisses' to myself but I was reprimanded for talking back...whatever 'talking back' means.

The ride home on the bus was a little scary. It was so noisy and everyone was going crazy I felt like I wanted to get off at the first stop. I was waiting for the bus driver to yell at some of the kids but instead he just turned up the radio music louder. When I saw my mom and dad waiting for me at the bus stop I couldn't have gotten off the bus fast enough.

My mom and dad were excited for my first day of school and couldn't wait for me to tell them about my first day. I told them everything except about me getting reminded about the NO LOVE rule, there wasn't a need for them to get upset with me on my very first day of school.

I rode the school bus to school on the second day of school. The ride was a lot more quiet. I'm not sure if it was because everyone was half asleep or because we had a very mean, very yell(y), very serious bus driver who refused to put the radio music on. I ended up taking a quick nap until the bus stopped moving and everyone was told to 'Get out!'.

Class was a little different on the second day, we actually did a lot of work. One of the biggest rules in the classroom is no talking while doing schoolwork. My friend Jenna whispered to me because she needed help on her math so I went over to her to help but once I was there Jenna raised her hand to Mrs. Walton and said I was bothering her. I thought that was a very mean thing to do but before I could say anything to the teacher I was given a warning and sent back to my chair. Then Jenna gave me a silly looking smile and continued doing her work. I was so confused as to what had happened I decided to draw a picture since I was the only one done with the schoolwork. I didn't get very far with my picture because Mrs. Walton came over and gave me another worksheet to work on...by the time the entire class was done I had been given two extra worksheets and my mind was going a little dizzy.

The first few weeks of school was basically the same except I kept forgetting the NO LOVE rule so I was warned, reprimanded and a letter was sent home to my mom and dad. Mom asked why I wasn't remembering to keep my hands to myself and the only thing I could think of was because I felt lonely, which was the truth. Mrs. Walton gives me so much work to do by myself by the time my classmates are finished with their work I just need to feel 'needed' so I try to hold someone's hand or try to cuddle them. Mom and dad told me they would be instilling strict punishments if I did not remember to keep my hands to myself; punishments like no play dates, no dessert and toys taken away. Since all those things were very important to me I decided to make a stronger effort even if it meant sitting on my hands all day long!