First day of school, and I missed it. I’ve always been there dropping off the kids at school on the first day of the new school year, and this time I was left behind.
This year my wife, who is working on getting her Master’s degree and teaching certificate (combined) is starting her student teaching. It just so happens where she is student teaching is a block away, at Greenwood Elementary. Our kids go to school across the street from there, at St. John. My wife decided she would take our kids the approximately block and a half to school, then walk across the street to her first day.
It’s a weird staggered schedule actually, where my first and second grader start school today, then come home at noon. Tomorrow they go to school for a full day, then a three day weekend (Labor Day). My pre-schooler, doesn’t get to start until next Wednesday, which is also when public school begins. Laura started working today with the classroom teacher before school begins to help prepare for the school year. She’ll actually be there for the whole of the school year, to this prepatory time is important.
As for my own kids, they were excited to go back to school. August, now in second grade was eager to see his friends. He actually enjoys school (as much as any kid will) so I expected nothing less from him. My daughter, however, was a different story. She was especially excited to be entering first grade. I think entering first grade for her meant she was a big kid. Perhaps this was directly related to her turning six, where the combination of age and grade gives her an emotional boost. Whatever the case, I’ll take it, always welcome to have a child excited for school. Any time positive emotions can be associated with school, I’m all for it.
I picked up August and Déla from school at noon, taking Ciárán and Xavier naturally, and let the kids play on the playground. They had plenty of fun both in school and on the playground, came home and had lunch.
Tomorrow August and Déla have a full day, and I’m looking forward to having large chunks of time to get my own work done without constant interruptions. Yes, it’s hard to get work done with a 15 month old around, but he naps twice a day. My pre-schooler, sadly, will watch perhaps a few too many hours of television each day until he begins next week. I’m just glad that a sense of normalcy is beginning to return to the house.