... on your daughter's first day of kindergarten -- and the first day of riding the big bus alone -- is "Mrs. Cass, we had a problem transporting Kelly today. But, we've located her...."

Seems the bus garage had it down that Kelly would be going to the babysitter's house only on Tuesday & Thursday, but a week or so ago, I changed it to five days to simplify things for everyone. Someone at the bus garage didn't get the message and put Kelly on the wrong bus home.

Isn't this every kindergarten mother's nightmare? Your small, tiny child lost on a big, yellow bus..driving around town.

My mom was waiting at the babysitter's house, camera in hand, to capture Kelly's arrival home from her first day of Kindergarten.

Only she didn't get off.

To their credit, the transportation folks located Kelly quickly (they had tried to deliver her to our house...where no one was home) and got her to our sitter's house and called me and informed me before she'd even gotten off the bus. I don't feel like she was ever in danger and she's not the kind to scare easily. As long as it seemed someone was in charge (the bus driver), she was probably just fine and had no idea she was on the wrong bus.

But, I can't help but wince at the thought that immediately enters my working-mom head -- If I were home, this wouldn't have happened.

I'm sure no one will be emotionally scarred by this (except maybe my mother....who worries way more than I), but it's no way to start the first day of school.

It's a good thing she has a day at grandma's to recover (the other half of Kelly's class starts school tomorrow). grandma, who's been taking care of Kelly since she was 10 weeks old will surely have something special planned for their last day together.

Despite all my no-tears talk, I did find myself choking back tears this morning when that big yellow bus rumbled away with my baby on board. Funny thing is...the only one who did cry was my younger daughter. It never occurred to me that she would miss probably Kelly more than anyone since her big sister has been her constant companion since ... well, birth.