Story highlights Nashville mayor returns to work for the first time since son's death in July

Mayor spoke openly about son's death and decision to discuss overdose

(CNN) Nashville Mayor Megan Barry returned to work Monday, more than a week after her 22-year-old son died.

Mayor Megan Barry and her son, Max, in an undated photo.

The mayor began her first day back at work by greeting children who were on their first day back to school, according to CNN affiliate WKRN. She handed out supplies and backpacks to the young students.

Barry told reporters that the first day of school was always "meaningful and special to me."

"The first day of school in our household was always a joyous occasion. Max loved school and our ritual was that we would always take a picture every day of the first day of school," she said.

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