Thankful - Days Four and Five

Well.

Three days into a 30-day commitment and I've already failed. So, to make up for it, I'll tell two things I'm thankful for.

First, I'm thankful for quiet days at home.  Yesterday was one of those days. Now, by quiet I don't mean that I sat around and listened to the hum of the appliances. It was still a busy day.  But, it was a busy day in the quiet solitude of my home. After a hectic few days away from the house, I'm always reminded that this social gal still craves the solitude of my own home to relax and recharge. 

Second, I am thankful for our community's school district.  Each year, Bud and I prayerfully reconsider schooling options for our children.  So far, we believe that we are in God's will in sending Kat to our local public school.  Is it perfect? Not by any means - no school is.  But it's a great district filled with administrators, faculty and parents who care about education and work hard to provide the best possible for our students.  Beyond the classroom, we are blessed to be in a district that is able to provide exceptional opportunities for the students to participate in sports and the arts.  I was especially reminded of my thankfulness as I watched Kat dance in our district-wide dance recital today.

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I am linking up with Dawn (another Dawn!) at the Goodlife for 30 Thankful Days.  What are you thankful for?  Feel free to link up and join us or leave your answer here in a comment!

I hate school.

(Update:  After taking a beating from some of my teacher friends, please allow me state for the record that I do NOT really hate school.  I actually always loved school and did quite well.  Please... read to the end of the post... you'll get it, I hope!)

Actually… I hate the start of a new school year.

Oh, sure… there’s some exciting elements about it. 

I love buying new school supplies and always find a few that I need want, too.  (New Sharpies, Bic Crystal pens, a planner, and Post-It Notes… anyone else with me here?)  Buying a few new outfits is always fun… and then the repeated fashion shows in attempt to determine which will be the winning outfit to be worn on the first day.

And then there’s the anticipation of new opportunities. New classes with new teachers. New friends and memories just waiting to be made.

A return to routine is kind of nice.  (Any other calendar-keeping, list-making, control freaks agree on this one?)

And yet… I hate the start of a new school year.

I’ve never been one of those mamas who start counting down days ‘til the first day of school on the first day of summer.

(What is wrong with them???) 

I don’t want my children to go back to school.

Of course, I realize that I truly don’t hate the start of a new school year.  I just don’t like giving up the one-on-one time with my children. The unhurried minutes of hanging out at home, the pool, the beach or between the many summer activities.  Activities spent with them.

What do I really hate?

That the first day of the new school year marks the passing of time.  The day symbolizes the marching of time that I can’t stop despite all the control I like to think I wield.  It reminds me of our ever evolving relationship and emphasizes how fast my kids are growing into adults… and the fact that there’s nothing I can do to stop time. Nor would I really, truly want to.

Kat started her sophomore year of high school yesterday.

 And this one?

Today is Burrito’s first day of classes at THE BIG UNIVERSITY.  (Hook ’em!!!)

Signed,

A Slightly Melancholy Mama

(P.S. – A big “thank you” to the group of mamas who met yesterday morning after the school drop-offs for The 7^th Annual Moms’ Back-to-School Breakfast. There’s nothing like copious amounts of coffee, deep discussions, side-splitting laughter and a little retail therapy with “the girls” to lighten a mama’s heart. Each one of you is a very special woman!)

One down...

Only 179 days to go. But who's counting, right?

Well, maybe these two.

The first day of school went well for both kids. Kat attended the first day of 7th grade at the new middle school in our district. We had a preview of the campus last week and it is beautiful. Kat was pleased to receive all the courses she had requested and was satisfied with the teachers for those classes. Except for one who shall remain nameless. She has a slight bias, though, as Burrito also had this teacher when he was at the other middle school and I think his opinion is clouding her opinion. Kat was also happy to report that she has friends and acquaintances in every class. Whew! Because we all know how important is to have your homies in class with you in order to receive a quality education! She was also pleased that her dance class was early in the day and not immediately after lunch like last year. Other contributing factors to the success of the day: She found all of her classrooms ("No problem!") and the lock on her locker worked just fine!
Burrito had a one day reprieve from early morning band practice on the first day. So, I dropped him off at the high school on my way to my coffee date with the girls in time to pick up his schedule and get to his first class of 10th grade. (I'm really not old enough to have a 10th grader, just in case you were wondering.) I am pleased to report that miracles are still occurring! Burrito's schedule was correct. He was thrilled with the instructors for his courses, as well. His big shock for the day? His world history class. It is a college level class that he will receive college credit for after he passes the final test at the end of the year. He had me look at the textbook multiple times while exclaiming things like, "Do you see how thick this is?" and "Look at how small the print is" and "There's hardly any pictures in here!"

Day number two started bright and early this morning since Burrito had to be at band. Actually, it was dark and early. And by early morning, I mean 6:30 AM. Also known as "o'dark-thirty." And, by 6:30 AM, I mean dressed, at the school, on the practice field, drum strapped on, ready to play at 6:30 AM.

Our alarm goes off at 5:15 AM now, thank you very much!

Tuesday is THE day!

The first day of school!

The new clothes are pressed and ready. Lunches are packed. School supplies have been purchased and labeled. Bus numbers are confirmed.

And mom has a coffee date with the girls lined up immediately following the departure.

Lord, bless and protect my children as they return to school.

Intelligent people are always ready to learn.
Their ears are open for knowledge.
Proverbs 18:15

Will this day never end? (And, why am I so gullible??)

Kiddo numero dos arrived home from school this afternoon and was in rare form. Typical preteen girl dramatics. I tried to cut her a little slack, as I knew it was a hard day with tests and all.

"How was your day, Kat, sweetie?" ‘Cause I’m that kind of a mom. I care. I really do. "Terrible." Followed by silence. Quite frankly, I’m surprised her answer had more than one syllable!

I’m not one to give up easily. "How was your test today?" This earned me a glare and more silence as she digs through her backpack. I can feel my eyebrows inching up my forehead. It’s an involuntary muscle thing that happens when I’m faced with rudeness from my kiddos. It’s also the beginning of “the look.”

Silently, she stands and thrusts a paper at me. A note. Top part, Kat’s handwriting. Bottom part, Ms. P’s handwriting. Ms. P is Kat’s language arts teacher. I begin reading…

Dear Mom, I am writing this note to you because I was cheating on the language arts test. I have a D-Hall next Thursday which means I will miss cheerleading next Thursday. I promise I will never do it again. Love, Kat

Mrs. W, I have spoken with Kat about this incident many, many, many times today. I think she should probably stay for detention several more days so she can organize my room, paint the walls a new color, clean up around the school and plant a nice garden for us to enjoy. Ms. P

Okay, in my defense, my brain didn’t comprehend anything beyond I was cheating on the language arts test. The. Mother. Of. All. School. Sins. I need to add that I’ve known Ms. P for a few years and even run into her socially outside of school functions. So, there’s the actual offense committed by Kat. And then, the humiliation of it. Oh, the humiliation! For me, that is.

I’m speechless. And my eyebrows have completely disappeared somewhere up in my hair. Kat begins to laugh. She has a great laugh, by the way. One of those infectious laughs that makes everyone join in even when they don’t know why she’s laughing. Except for me right at that moment.

So, I read the note again. This time, I notice the details of the proposed punishment and that Ms. P’s signature is followed by the date: 4/1/08. Underlined. Hard. Like ballpoint through the paper hard. Comprehension begins to seep through me. Then disgrace. I’ve been had. Twice. In one day. By my kiddos.

Can I just go to bed now?

Am I the only one who forgot it was April 1st?

Burrito. Kiddo numero uno. My "by the rules" kid. Serious. Self-motivated. And he apparently has a deep, sick sense of humor - the likes of which are just now being revealed.

Picture it... I'm home alone. Enjoying the quiet and the companionship of my furball, Max. Just hangin' out doing my stay-at-home mom duties when the cell phone rings. Not a Prince Charming ring tone. Not a kiddo ring tone. Ahhh... a school prefix number. I chuckle to myself wondering which kiddo I'll find on the other end of the line and what paper/book/notebook/project/permission slip was forgotten this morning.

"This is Mrs. O from Your Local High School. Is this Mrs. W?" Burrito's Enhanced Spanish 2 teacher. Her voice is pleasant enough. I'm not worried yet - the academic awards assembly is next week and I'm just certain she's calling to let me know that Burrito has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize!

"I'm calling to let you know that I had to write up Burrito in class today and he'll be staying after school for detention. I tried to give him several chances but he continued to be disrespectful to me and I just can't allow that." Okay, so she didn't call him Burrito. She actually used his given name. The real point here is that I was so stunned she could have said anything after that statement and it would not have registered with my shell-shocked brain. Burrito??? Forget homework? Maybe. Unprepared for a test? Not likely. Disrespectful? Unfathomable.

She continued with the details. "Using the laptops in class... blah, blah, blah... surfing the net... told him to stop... blah, blah, blah... did it again... blah, blah, blah. He is very upset so I'll let him talk to you now."

"Hi, Mom." His silence followed by my silence. The electrical impulses in my brain are firing erratically and I can't form a complete thought. Finding it hard to breathe. Numbness in my lips and tongue. Losing my peripheral vision. Is this what a stroke feels like? Finally, I choke out one word, "Burrito?" A little more silence. "Did she tell you, Mom?" Still silence. I wouldn't know what to say even if my brain were functioning properly.

Apparently, even Burrito was beginning to wonder if I was having a stroke. "Hey, Mom? Are you still there?" I need to sit down. Again, the one word answer, "Yes."

At this point, Burrito begins to laugh. Not a normal laugh. Bordering on hysterical. I'm trying to regain control of my misfiring brain. It's becoming obvious we're both going to need medical attention. "Mom? April Fool!!!" The maniacal laughing continues. It's not just Burrito now. Mrs. O and the entire class have joined in the fray.

That's okay. You know what they say about paybacks. Did I mention that Mrs. O lives in our neighborhood and I know which house is hers? Oh, yes.

P.S. - I hope they pull that same prank on a few more unsuspecting parents. (And, I guess that would explain where kiddo numero uno gets that sick sense of humor.)