Kindergartner's and Dad's First Day

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- It was the morning Alonza Watkins had thought about a thousand times. The day his son, Jeramie, would follow in his footsteps at R.V. Daniels Elementary School.

"'Kind of hard for me to watch him come up," said Watkins.

"I mean, I've been seeing him growing up since he was small and everything. And just -- him making it up to this stage now to the school that I started out from? -- I went to school here when I was in kindergarten, so he's coming here to keep the tradition going!"

It was hard to choose who had the wider eyes this morning between five-year-old Jeramie and dad, who is also starting his own classes today toward a Master's Degree.

The elder Watkins is extremely proud of his son, who can already read books and write his name.

"He goes to the library almost every day," said Watkins.

"I go to the library every day!" exclaimed Jeramie.

"I draw on the computer and play games and all that!"

R.V. Daniels' Principal, Kimberly Dennis, welcomed a number of parents and new students including an informal, "Boo-Hoo-Breakfast" to ease nervous parents' emotions.

"I know this is your child's first kindergarten experience, first school experience, and I just wanted to make it easier for you," said Dennis.

Then it was time to separate these best buddies. Dad Watkins told First Coast News he is confident his "little man" would do just fine in his new surroundings.

"It'll be OK for me. I have faith in him that he'll make it on his own and everything. I've been grooming him up on how to survive on his own!"

And then with a loving embrace they said goodbye. Jeramie, joining his new kindergarten classmates, and Dad, heading off to work and classes of his own.

"I love you!" said Alonza Watkins.

"I love you too!" grinned Jeramie.