"Boys are mean and only want to play with trucks..."

A new school year has arrived, and my girl is off to the wild world of kindergarten! I've been gearing up for this moment like a marathon runner preparing for a race. You might think that's a bit much, but a year ago, my husband and I faced the monumental decision: should our, at the time 4-year-old, join the Pre-K+ class or stick with the regular Pre-K?

The Pre-K+ class is like Pre-K on caffeine, so naturally, we went for it. Fast forward a year, and we're just days away from her first official day of kindergarten. We've got new clothes, a backpack, a lunchbox, water cups, shoes, and all the supplies needed for this adventure.

We've survived Kindergarten Camp, conquered the Kindergarten Open House, met the teacher, and even know where her little cubby is. WE ARE READY! Yet somehow, my anxiety is doing the cha-cha.

In her class, she's sitting at a table with three boys. She's made it clear she has no plans to befriend them because, and I quote, "boys are mean and only want to play with trucks, and I'm an artist!" I've suggested she give them a chance; maybe they're secretly Picasso fans.

New friendships are on the horizon. None of her daycare pals are going to the same school, and I worry she'll be a lone wolf at lunch. But let's face it, my little social butterfly will probably have a posse by the end of week one. Still, the worry lingers like a bad haircut.

Then there's the pesky thought of a whole new crew in charge of her safety and brain development. People I've met once and who won't know me from Adam when they see me again.

Maybe that's the crux of it all. Strangers are taking care of my girl. A new school routine, an entirely new after-school program, new friends, and parents I'll hopefully meet one day, and maybe we'll all become besties.

A daycare mom recently lamented that none of the kids are going to the same schools. We live in a sprawling area with more elementary schools than coffee shops. Within a three-mile radius of my neighborhood, there are three elementary schools.

I get where she's coming from. It's not just the kids adapting, but us parents too. We've known these daycare kids since they were two. We've been at the birthday parties, hosted playdates, and now it's time to start fresh with a brand-new parent squad.

The silver lining? Our new parent group is local, thanks to our "neighborhood school." I've always dreamed of living in a place where kids ride bikes on the street, and everyone knows everyone. But as an introvert, I tend to hide in my shell. Maybe this new parent group will coax me out.

I'm actually starting to feel better about the whole situation. Sure, it could all go spectacularly wrong, and I'll have to coexist with these parents until my kids graduate, but hey, let's stay optimistic!

Here's to a new chapter for us all!

Amber