Today is my first day of school and I cannot help but go down memory lane to all my previous firsts:

First up, Nursery School: Uh huh, I remember and can recount the specifics of that day so vividly that it even scares me. Maybe there is something like selective eidetic memory-and on that note, I have it. Well, my mum was in yellow dress with purple flowers (it really looked awesome on her). To be very honest, I don’t remember how we got to school, but I do remember being at the gate of the school compound. Mum encouraged me to walk in and assured me that she wouldn’t leave but stay right where she was- well that gave me some peace and comfort. A few steps in and I remembered I had not asked her when she would come get me from class, so I ran back to ask. She wasn’t there and that’s when all hell broke loose and water works began. I remember crying so much that my teacher had me sit with her (the whole day?-FYI, I don’t remember going home so I guess the rest of the day was fine).  PS: By the way, my mum wasn’t far when I missed her at the gate; she says she heard me cry and it broke her heart. She cried too!

Primary School: This was so awesome‼! My mum and dad dropped me at school and I freely mingled with others. We were called to assemble and shown to our class. This was a newly formed school with only one class ahead of us, so we were all like age mates. Honestly, I loved my eight years of primary school- that place built my character. But any way, that’s a story for another day.

High School: My mum and her friends took me to school. I was so excited to be in school, that as soon as I was done with registration I hurriedly bid mum and her friends good bye as I set off to explore what would be my “home” for four years. None of the rest of my days in high school was ever as pleasant as that first day. Not to worry, I will someday tell you why.

University-Undergrad: I remember leaving the house with mum at 6.30am. I had gotten admission in a university out of town and in a bid to beat the drag that is registration; mum wanted us to leave home early. We linked up with her friend who had so generously offered to drive us to Uni. I wasn’t excited at all‼! Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the thought of pursuing higher education, but rather the fear unknown that dampened my spirits. The thought of being paired up with an unknown and unpredictable roommate(s) was literally driving me bonkers. I had heard all sorts of crazy things about campus and was definitely not looking forward to experiencing that first hand. We got to school early (or so we thought) and the queues were unbearably long. Again, mum to the rescue. We queued at separate stations and halved the time we would have initially spend just queueing at one station. In contrast to my first day of high school, I was homesick before mum even left. I could swear my heart broke down into tiny pieces as she left. That night was the longest I had gone through in a while.

University-Post-grad: No, Mum isn't with me today. Though I must admit that I acknowledge how blessed and lucky I am to have had the opportunity to have had her with me on all my previous first days of school. God knows if she could, she would have accompanied me today, in the evening for my first day in campus for my post graduate degree.

I plan on leaving the office thirty minutes early and walk to the stage where I will catch a matatu to school. The days of mum taking me to school may be a thing of the past but that doesn't mean they are to be forgotten and not appreciated.

After class, it’s back to being a wife and mother, after all AM EVERY WOMAN.