MY SON INSISTED ON BRINGING TWO BACKPACKS TO HIS FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL—AND HIS REASON SHOOK ME
That morning, he was up before me, fully dressed with both shoes on the wrong feet, standing by the door like he was preparing to board a rocket ship. “Ready?” I asked, trying to stay composed. First day of kindergarten. Big deal. He nodded, gripping his new red Lightning McQueen backpack as though it held…