Today is finally the day! The day that my kids go back to school, schedules are adhered to and structure is restored in our home. At 7:50 a.m. we walked out the door with our new clothes, new backpacks, new hair cuts, ready for the mile long journey. A journey that will take us to new classrooms, new teachers and countless new friends. A journey that makes us feel a little bit nervous inside as we are unsure of what lies ahead. A journey that will take 9 months to complete. A journey of learning and growth, homework and tests, reading and math...and recess. (the best part of the day)As a mother, I too am a little nervous and anxious during our walk. I try to calm the butterflies by reminding them of the great adventure that awaits them, the friends that are waiting to meet them and the teacher that is eager to teach them. I am also deeply grateful for the teachers. For the fact that they will spend 6 hours a day with my daughters, teaching them and loving them. I am grateful for the many hours they dedicate to their profession and for the way they are just as excited and anxious as we are as we walk in the door.
This year is different for me. I am no longer needing to rush out the door ready for work. I have quit my job and now I can enjoy the walk to and from school with them. I can go back home and do the laundry, dishes, vacuuming and even some sewing or needlework as I watch Coleman play a computer game. I can be a "mom-helper" in the classroom and help plan every party. It is such a wonderful feeling...being a mom. I had forgotten. I had let my work and my responsibilities of the past few years cloud my mind. But not this year. This year I will take advantage of every opportunity. I will welcome new friends into our home, I will read books and do homework right after school, I will keep my home clean and I will even have fresh baked cookies for them as they come through the door. I will do all of these things until the newness wears off and the day to day grind gets to be too much. Then I will try to remember the first day of school and the feelings that I have written about. Hopefully I will rediscover the excitement and be able to be the mom that I want to be! I love the first day of school!
6 comments:
Well said! I, too, am glad that you can be home more! The girlies look so cute all ready for school.
Awesome! I am smiling thinking of all that excitement! You sound so excited, I look forward to that part of life too. I keep telling myself that I am going to try to learn right along with them. Getting my textbooks when I can, working with them in the classroom as often as I can. School was such a fun and rewarding part of my life. . . I hope it is for my kids too. I envy your position. So what kind of work did you do?
Jodi, I loved how you described the newness of school! I too get so excited for them and for the new experiences. I too promise to have snacks and a clean house for them. (I already cut up cantelope and strawberries for the first two days). I tell myself I will insist on reading EVERY night, be a better homework helper, and have perfect structure of time. So, when things start to stray, I will remember what you wrote and what I too feel on the first days of school and recommit.
You are a gifted writer Jodi!! Your thoughts summed up so much of what I was feeling as the new school year begins. I only got to send 1 child off to elementary this year. But the excitement never goes away. High school and college brings its own anxiety and excitement. Thanks for reflecting and making us all want to bake cookies and be a good mom!
I wish I was walking my kids to school with you and walking right into your door for some of those home made cookies that are probably still warm from the oven. Lucky kids. Hope this year is a great one for you and the kiddos!
Well said! I too love the first day of school. Your girls look adorable!
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