This morning, some 400 young children made their way back to their familiar classrooms and back to a (semi) normal routine. But the students of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut did not return to the same elementary school that Adam Lanza turned into a place of tragedy and sadness. No. Instead, the 400 students who we’ve all hailed as brave, courageous kids are making their home in a new school, one town over, in Monroe, CT at the old Chalk Hill school.

Before the morning bell rang, dozens of volunteers have worked relentlessly, turning the once-was Chalk Hill school into the new, safe Sandy Hook Elementary School. Volunteers raised bathroom floors for kindergarteners to be able to reach the toilets and the sink the bathrooms, as well as replicating the placement of bookshelves and cubbys for students to feel at home. They’ve also carried over students backpacks and other belongings that they left behind the morning of the devastating shooting. But that wasn’t all the volunteers made sure the students had on their first day back to school.

In addition to painting the walls and hanging the same signs and artwork to match the students old classrooms, as well as transferring tables, chairs and desks from Sandy Hook to Chalk Hill, students were given gift boxes with toys inside.

Safety precautions for the children, their teachers and their families have been taken to ensure that as much normalcy as possible can be given. Law enforcement has even dubbed the new school, “the safest school in America” and rightly so, for these children deserve nothing but the best as they make their return to school. The school district has also encouraged parents that would like to stay close with their children to stay and visit in the classrooms or auditorum as long as they’d like. Parents are even encouraged to ride the bus with their children, to help them feel safe and secure returning to familiar routines.

Parents had IDs checked and incoming students and families were greeted by a fleet of police. Officers guarded the entrances and exits of the building.

Though the community is still reeling from the tragedy, Newtown Superintendent Janet Robinson said that they will be doing a normal day of classes, keeping the children and teachers on a regular schedule.

After a whirlwind of tragedy and horror that shocked the nation, a little normalcy is all we can hope for for the brave Sandy Hook students.

Plus, more from The Bump:

Sandy Hook Snowflakes: I’m In, Are You?

After School Shooting, Pediatricians Recommend Turning the TV Off Around Kids

Parents React With Fear and Empathy for Victims of Sandy Hook Elementary

I have three kids, all twenty-two months apart. For the past ten years, I’ve begged my husband almost every night for a little break so I could enjoy just a few wee seconds of silence. There were stacks of diapers, mounds of dirty clothes and a sea of dirty dishes that seemed like it would never end. Until now.

Last month, my youngest son Tyler, started Kindergarten. I was so excited in anticipation of him getting to meet new friends at school, and get a chance for him to have another role model in his life. Until I found myself all alone. I sat in our once crazy house, and there was silence. Not just silence for a few minutes, but hours of silence. I could hear the clock ticking, the refrigerator running and even my heart beating.

In that moment, I wanted it all back. I wanted to go back in time and appreciate the time more when I had all my kids at home with me. Cherish the moments more, instead of getting caught-up in the difficulties of raising babies.

I went to the school and watched him giggle with his friends on the school playground. I knew in that moment that I had done a marvellous job on the first part of raising my babies. They are all going into elementary school happy, healthy, well-rounded children.

Now at 3:15, instead of dealing with timeouts and temper tantrums, there are sometimes tears over homework. The chaos is still there at times, just in a different form. Now when my house gets a little wild, I embrace it because it will not be long before the children are out of our house forever.

So what now? Is it time to have another baby?

If your kids are older, do you miss the “baby phase”? What are the best and worst things about sending your children to school?

Most of my friends’ kids started school today, but I’ve still got another week until my son’s first day of preschool. (So all that shopping I did over the weekend can’t be considered last-minute — for once I’m actually slightly ahead of the game!). Here are a few cute things I picked up — and I few I wished I’d gotten him. If you’re still back-to-school shopping, I hope this gives you inspiration.

What were some of your favorite school supplies you bought for your child this year?

New moms always hear their friends with older kids say “enjoy the time now, they grow up so fast.” I always thought that was total BS, because how could those moms wish for what I had – two little insatiable people who needed something from me all the time, no privacy, a slow insanity from lack of sleep, entire days with conversations using less than two syllable words, and situations that would outdo any “what’s grosser than gross” joke? I never thought I would make it to the point of that relaxed mom who at the park just watches their kids play while reading a book.

I wished, just wished they would grow up and stop making so many messes, scenes, and demands.

And then they did.

They walked themselves to school this morning for the first time. I should have been celebrating, for haven’t I complained about doing that task a million times over the last 9 years? And isn’t it my job to encourage them to rely on themselves and not me? Instead, unexpectedly, the emptiness and pain of not being needed anymore by them completely overtook me. Through tears I watched their backpacked bodies vanish around the corner, and I sadly whispered – “wait for me. wait for me.”

From now on, I’ll watch what I wish for.

Plus, more from The Bump:

10 Things to do for You in 10 Minutes

You Know You’re a Mom When…

Staying Sane Tips for New Moms