Cassie woke up with butterflies in her tummy. Today was her first day of kindergarten! Mom came into her room with a smile. "Good morning, sweetheart," Mom said gently. "I know you're feeling nervous." Cassie nodded and hugged her teddy bear tight. "My tummy feels funny," she whispered. Mom sat on the bed. "That's okay. Let's take three deep breaths together." They breathed in slowly and out slowly. Cassie felt a little better already.

At breakfast, Cassie pushed her cereal around the bowl. "What if nobody likes me?" she asked quietly. Mom held her hand. "You're kind and funny. People will love you," Mom said warmly. Cassie thought about her favorite things. She loved drawing and singing. "Remember," Mom continued, "when you feel worried, you can count to five or think happy thoughts." Cassie practiced counting. "One, two, three, four, five." She smiled a little. Mom packed her lunch with a special note inside.

The school looked so big! Cassie held Mom's hand tightly. Her heart beat fast. She remembered to take deep breaths. A teacher with a kind smile walked over. "Hi, Cassie! I'm Ms. Roberts. Welcome!" Inside the classroom, colorful posters covered the walls. Other children played with blocks and puzzles. A girl with curly hair waved at Cassie. "Want to play?" she asked. Cassie looked at Mom, who gave an encouraging nod. "Okay," Cassie said softly, taking a small step forward.

Cassie and her new friend Emma built a tower together. They giggled when it fell down. During circle time, they sang songs. Cassie knew some of them! At recess, they played on the swings. "Push me higher!" Emma laughed. Cassie felt happy. Her tummy didn't hurt anymore. When Mom picked her up, Cassie ran over excitedly. "Mom! School was so fun! Can I come back tomorrow?" Mom hugged her tight. "I'm so proud of you, Cassie. You were very brave today."