Parents.. with different treatment

First day of grade 1

The morning sun streamed through the kitchen window, casting a warm glow on the breakfast table as Valerie rushed around, making sure everything was ready for Xander and Xavier's first day of school. Today was a big day for both boys—Xander was starting first grade, and Xavier was heading to Kinder 1.

Xander, now five, sat at the table, quietly eating his cereal. He had grown a lot over the summer, both in height and in confidence. He was excited but also a little nervous about starting first grade. He wasn't sure what to expect, and there were all these new things he had heard about—more homework, longer days, and new classmates.

Xavier, on the other hand, was buzzing with energy. At four years old, he couldn't sit still for long. He had been talking non-stop about starting kindergarten, eager to play with new toys and meet new friends. "Mommy! Mommy! Do you think they'll have LEGOs at school?" Xavier asked, bouncing in his chair.

Valerie smiled as she handed him his backpack. "I'm sure they'll have lots of fun things for you to play with, Xavier. But remember, it's not just about toys—you'll be learning new things too!"

Xander looked at his little brother, feeling a mix of emotions. He had always felt protective of Xavier, but the attention Xavier got from everyone—especially from their dad—still made Xander feel like he was always in the background. Today, though, he was determined to focus on his own experience. After all, first grade was a big step, and he wanted to do well.

Colby, who had been getting ready in the other room, finally came into the kitchen. "Alright, you two ready for your first day?" he asked with a grin, ruffling Xavier's hair.

Xavier giggled and jumped up from his chair, ready to go. "I'm so ready, Daddy! I'm going to be the best at school!"

Colby chuckled and gave Xavier a high-five. Then he turned to Xander, who was finishing his cereal quietly. "You ready too, buddy?"

Xander nodded, trying to hide the nervousness he felt. "Yeah, I'm ready."

Valerie came over, giving both boys their backpacks. "Okay, let's get going before we're late!" she said, ushering them towards the door.

The drive to school was filled with Xavier's excited chatter about all the things he wanted to do—making new friends, playing on the playground, and of course, finding the LEGOs. Xander, sitting in the backseat next to his brother, stayed quiet, looking out the window. His stomach was doing little flips, the nerves growing stronger as they got closer to the school.

When they arrived, the schoolyard was buzzing with activity. Kids were everywhere, some clinging to their parents, others excitedly running toward their classrooms. Xander gripped the straps of his backpack, taking in the scene.

Valerie and Colby walked with the boys to their classrooms, starting with Xavier's kindergarten class. The room was bright and colorful, filled with toys and tiny tables. Xavier's face lit up when he saw the other kids playing.

"Look, Daddy! There are so many toys!" Xavier said, tugging on Colby's hand.

Colby smiled and knelt down, helping Xavier get settled. "You're going to have so much fun, buddy. Just listen to your teacher and be nice to everyone, okay?"

Xavier nodded eagerly before running off to join a group of kids building blocks.

Valerie leaned down and kissed Xavier on the cheek. "Have a great day, sweetheart. We'll see you later."

As they left Xavier's classroom, Xander couldn't help but feel a small pang of envy. Xavier was always so confident, always so excited. And Colby had been so focused on making sure Xavier was comfortable. Xander wondered if anyone would notice if he was nervous.

They made their way to the first-grade classrooms, and Xander's heart began to race. His class was larger than Xavier's, and the kids all seemed so much older, bigger. Valerie noticed the change in Xander's expression and knelt beside him, her eyes soft and reassuring.

"You're going to do great, Xander," she said, brushing a strand of hair out of his face. "First grade is going to be fun. You're smart, and I know you'll make new friends."

Xander nodded, but the butterflies in his stomach didn't go away.

Colby knelt down beside him too, though his tone was a little more rushed, clearly still thinking about Xavier. "You got this, Xander. Just remember, pay attention to your teacher and have fun."

Xander tried to smile. "Okay, Daddy."

They walked him to his classroom door, and Valerie gave him one last hug. "We'll be here to pick you up later, okay? Have a great first day!"

Xander took a deep breath and walked into the classroom. He found his desk, sitting quietly as the other kids around him chattered excitedly. He didn't know anyone here, and it felt strange being in a room full of unfamiliar faces.

As the day went on, Xander focused hard on his lessons, trying to stay calm and not think about his nerves. He was good at listening, and the teacher seemed nice enough. But every now and then, he found his mind wandering to how different it felt from kindergarten. There was no Xavier, no playful breaks—just a lot of learning.

When the school day finally ended, Xander walked out of his classroom, clutching his backpack tightly. He scanned the crowd of parents and saw Valerie waving at him. Colby was standing a little farther back, holding Xavier's hand, who was, as usual, bouncing with energy.

"How was your first day?" Valerie asked as Xander came over.

"It was... okay," Xander said quietly. He wasn't sure how to describe it, but everything still felt new and a little overwhelming.

Xavier, on the other hand, launched into an excited story about his day, talking about the toys, the friends he made, and the games he played during recess. "It was so much fun, Daddy! I want to go back tomorrow!" Xavier said, pulling on Colby's arm.

Colby smiled, clearly proud of Xavier. "That's great, buddy. I'm glad you had a good day."

As they walked back to the car, Xander stayed quiet again, listening to Xavier's animated stories. He didn't mind Xavier being excited—it was just that sometimes, he wished he could feel that same excitement, without the weight of trying to be noticed.

Valerie noticed Xander's quietness, and later that evening, she made sure to spend some extra time with him, listening as he told her about his day, about the things that felt hard and the things that felt good.

"Every new thing takes time, Xander," she said, brushing his hair as he lay in bed. "It's okay to feel nervous. You'll get used to it, and soon, you'll feel just as confident as you did last year. I know it."

Xander nodded, comforted by her words. He wasn't sure what the rest of first grade would bring, but for now, he felt a little better knowing that someone noticed him, even if it wasn't always his dad.