School is Back...

It's the most wonderful time of the year. No, not Christmas. BACK TO SCHOOL!

I love being home with my children. We have so much fun, they entertain me, and I love getting to spend so much time with them. But, after three long short months together, I am ready for them to get back in school. And I will be honest, I was more ready for August 15th than my sister. (August 15th happens to also be the opening day for Deer Hunting in the Lowcountry of SC). We were prepared, we had our supplies and new clothes. We knew who our teachers were going to be. All the kids had to do was show up.

Bright and early yesterday morning, I woke Ian up and got him moving. He has to be at school at 7:30 (too early). He was excited to see his friends. I was a little nervous simply because Ian didn't go with me to Open House before school started because he was with my Parents. He didn't know where his classroom was and didn't really know his teacher. So, I suggested that I would go in with him and get him where he was supposed to be. Ian vetoed my plan: Mom, I don't need you to go in with me. Me: But Ian, you don't know where your classroom is. Ian: But Mom, I DO know where the 2nd grade classrooms are. All I have to do is go there and look on the doors. When I see "Mrs. Thompson" on the door, I will go inside because I will have found my classroom. I dropped the conversation for the moment. When we were almost to school, I resurrected it again. Me: Ian are you sure you don't want me to walk in with you? Ian: Mom, just drop me off in the circle. I've got this.

So I did. I needed him to know I trusted his judgment and honored his independence. But it broke my heart a little lot. However, I didn't cry. I was trying to be strong for the other little ones in the car with me.

Now Will, he was a wild card about school. Last year, he went to preschool 3 days a week. He cried every time I dropped him off and almost the entire time that he was there from August until November 1st. It was awful. I kept sending him because everyone said it would get better. And it did, finally. Like a light switch, he went to school on November 1st and loved it. Never another tear. So this year, he asked me to send him every day. I signed him up for it but honestly, I wasn't crazy about him going every day (even for just 3 hours). But he wanted to do it, begged me to let him, and honestly, the activity is good for him. When Will  is bored he writes on the walls and couch, dumps powder on the floor, jumps off of things and ends up in the ER. This seemed like a simpler plan.



Will and his teacher, Mrs. Kendra



He was so excited to go to school yesterday. He picked out his own clothes, helped me pack his backpack, was up and ready long before usual. On the way to school, I asked him if he was sure he wanted to go to school every single day. Will: Yes. Me: Are you sure? Will: Mom, I'm a big boy now. You are just gonna have to accept that.

I did accept it. There were no tears from either of us yesterday. And when he got home, he assured me that going every day was the right plan for him. At least the house will benefit!

CHEESE!

And then came Maggie. I didn't want to put her in any program this year. I stay home for a reason. But, the reality is that I am working two jobs and I often work late into the night so that it doesn't interfere with my care for the children. On top of that, Maggie doesn't ever play with kids her own age. And she never plays with little girls. When the boys are gone to school, she sits next to the window, waiting for them. She is bored. Will's school offers a Mom's Morning Out program. I decided it would be in both of our best interests for her to go two mornings a week. That way, I can work at the office one of those days, and the other day, I can do things that I never seem to have time for. You know, like go to the doctor or clean the house.

Playing as soon as we
walked in!

She seemed very eager to go to "Big Girl School" because every time we went into Will's classroom, she cried when we left. So I was hopeful that today, she would be just fine. And she was better than anything I could have hoped for. She walked right in, started playing and waved goodbye when I left. I then walked back down to Will's room to tell his teacher something and Will wanted to know all about how Maggie was doing. Will: Mom, how is Maggie? Is she crying for me? After reassuring him that she was fine (and his teacher offering to take him down to check on her in a little while), I left. I held it together until I got to the car. And then, the tears sobs came. I called my Mom and cried with her. Then my mother in law called to check on Maggie (and me). I cried some more. I finally pulled it together just in time to walk in to our Staff retreat at work. There were no calls for me to come get her. She was just fine. And eventually, I was too!

As much as I look forward to the start of school, it is hard to believe that another calendar page is turned in their lives. They are growing up so fast and I really wish that I could just press a pause button and keep them this little forever. But like Will says, I just have to get over it. I can't freeze them in time. So I just settle for the summers of fun and the celebration of school returning. Just 20 more years of this and Josh and I can celebrate a new phase in life: Empty Nest!

I just loved this one! Will was trying to get her to take a picture
with him and she was screaming, "NO!" because she
wanted the camera to be all on her! DIVA!