This is the difference between boys (men) and girls: I ask my husband, a teacher, "How was the first day of school?" "Fine."

I ask him (also the family chauffeur) how our kids' first day was: "Fine."

I ask my son, the new high school freshman. "Fine."

When I finally get to my daughter, I say: "Give me all the details." And I am rewarded with a solid 20 minutes of blow-by-blow, down to the color of her schedule, the excrutiating details of her long-delayed bathroom break and commentary about "the popular girl" and "the annoying boy." I even got some info on my son's day.

But the biggest news: "We don't have to wear uniforms!" What??????

Why I didn't know this before Monday, I don't really understand. My husband says, "It was on the website." And, "I didn't know you were shopping for uniforms."

You would think that a mom who'd already had one kid go through the school, and whose HUSBAND WORKS THERE, would have an inside track on information. True, I did not check the website. I accept that. But still.

"Daddy just doesn't understand what a tragedy this is," I tell Erika. "I know," she whines.

This is a practical, no frills kind of girl. She's happy in a t-shirt and black Converse sneakers. Now she'll feel compelled to think about outfits. For middle school. I shudder at all the implications.

We'll have to head back to the mall to return all those polo shirts and navy blue shorts (fortunately, she hadn't cut off the tags). And we'll have to shop for just the right clothes so she can fit in -- and be herself.

Photo: Sun Sentinel file