Today was a second “first day” at Buck Jones for me.

Nearly 14 years ago, fresh out of college and freshly married, I started working at the Woodstock location. There were no nerves at all. I was young, smart, and probably pretty full of myself.

A lot of things have happened, good and bad, in the last 14 years. Some of them caused me to be a little anxious. Some things gave me extra confidence in certain areas. A few of the things made me feel very unsure of myself. But at the same time, I feel very confident in my ability to do this job.

This morning, after dropping Henry off for his first day of 2nd grade. He wasn’t nervous — after all, he’s pretty young, smart, and full of himself! I didn’t have a whole lot of time to think about what he was doing today because I knew he was having a great day. He always does.

But I felt my little angel sitting on my shoulder. I knew he was with me. Charlie was perched in his usual spot — right on my left collarbone, snuggled up against my neck, in his blue and white seersucker gown.

There were a few times today when I talked to vendors I had worked with way back when and they asked what I’d been doing all these years. “Raising a family” is of course, my standard answer. It’s not the time to lay it all out. I’m sure it’ll come up in time because it’s a part of my daily life. I talk about it and it’s just not a secret.

I came home and picked Henry up at his new after school program. He loved it. I knew he would.

But when I pulled out his work and looked at his “All About Me” page that he filled out at school, I realized I was right when I knew Charlie was with me. He was with both of us today.

I’m always amazed when Henry draws his family for others and includes Charlie (always bigger than him and with wings). It makes me happy and at the same time, extremely sad that I didn’t have a 2nd grader AND a 4th grader today. But I don’t question it. I just hold on to the knowledge that we’re doing the right thing in making sure Henry knows that his family is bigger than it seems.

It’s not surprising that while he was with me today, he was also with Henry. They’re connected in ways I’ll never understand.

Our family will continue to celebrate firsts.

And our boys will celebrate many more firsts together… as brothers… in their own way.