My Mission Statement

I write to serve, to unite, to educate. I write to share literature and flesh out ideas that may be of interest to others. I write to document an emotion, experience, or a blip in time. My mission is to write in such a way that the reader is reminded that we can find humor in all situations. It's one of the great blessings of life.


Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Back to School Routine

Wow! As of this morning, all four children are back in school. (As are millions of other children across the state) Within two weeks, nearly every child you know will be back in school. Back to their routine. I have to confess, I'm so happy I could dance in the streets. Summers are wonderful but only when juxtaposed with the routine of the school year. Everyone was ready to go back, and truly seemed happy to be there.

The first day of school might just be the most important day of the year for a child. It's how we learn to put our best foot forward, discover the rules, culture and routines of a new environment. Parents send their children to school in their nicest school clothes, with fresh new school supplies, and ready. In that way, we send the teachers the message that, "Okay. We take this seriously. We're supporting you, and we value education!" The first day of school equips us to be successful the entire year, lays the valuable foundation for the real learning that will take place every other day. Kids learn what they can do and what they can't do at different times of the day. They learn their way around the classroom and the school. They find out the expectations of the teacher; the understanding of which, as we all know, will make our break our year with that teacher. So today, I offer up a prayer for all the back to school children. I pray that they will enjoy their first day, but that they will also enjoy its 'specialness'. I pray that they will soak in the rules and procedures and directions and all the things that will free them up to have a fun, successful year. I also ask special blessings on all the mamas who pulled out all the stops to give their kids the best summer ever.

The onset of a new school year requires that we re-integrate some words and phrases into our vocabulary. I might even have to post them with the definitions alongside them.

BATH- The act of cleaning yourself! Yes, you must use soap. Yes, you must wash your hair. Yes, you have to use the nail brush. And no, swimming doesn't count anymore.

BEDTIME- The act of going to sleep at a predetermined time regardless of what movie is on Disney Channel, where you are in the awesome Lego helicopter, or what the dogs are learning to do.

HOMEWORK- The additional schoolwork you must do when you get home after a long day. I know. It sucks. But it's neccessary. Like cleaning your bathroom.

HURRY UP- (I hate this one) This means, COME ON! Someone is waiting for you! Be it a bus, a carpool, or your caffeine-crazed mother. It requires an immediate response.

A few phrases I get to say a bit less often:

ARE YOU SUNSCREENED YET?

DID YOU REAPPLY?

WHEN HAVE YOU LAST SEEN YOUR SHOES?

GO SCRUB YOUR FEET

NO, YOU CAN'T HAVE A 3RD POPSICLE.

HAVE YOU DONE YOUR READING TODAY?

SMELL THAT WET TOWEL! NOW DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY WE HANG THEM UP?

Hope you all have a great day! If you're kids are in school, congratulations! Hope they have an awesome first day! Appreciate all they've been through. When they get home, recognize that they probably got the most amount of new knowledge in one day that they'll get all year. They may be tired and overwhelmed and need pizza for supper AND dessert. Accommodate them! xox

3 comments:

Liz said...

Well, today was my final day as a mom in our public school system! My youngest began her senior year of high school. Quite a moment. It's a half-day, and I have to work this afternoon, which leaves her too much time for mischief, I might add (though I think she still has summer reading to do!) I think I need to show her your list.

Funny to be thinking about Christmas already, but I have been, because 1) When I was transferring the first day pic, I came across the Christmas 2009 pix as well and stopped to enjoy. And 2) in the past week or so, I've started seeing Christmas books pop up on book blogs. One to watch out for! "Mary's Son: A Tale of Christmas," by Darryl Nyznyk. For me I hope it to be the bridge between the past, reading lovely Christmas stories (and some that frankly, aren't all that great but still resonate with the memories of Christmases past) with my girls and the fact they're way too old to read to! The author created it for his own daughter one Christmas season, and now it's a book. It sounds wonderful and filled with the Christmas spirit.

Happy first day, everyone! Don't know how many shopping days until Christmas, and I don't want to know!

Liz said...

BTW, good luck with the PTA prez job, too. I did that at the elementary and high school levels. High school is way, way easier -- committee system thrives and everyone does his/her job efficiently and with no muss, no fuss.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

Isabel by Donna Jones Koppelman

Isabel by Donna Jones Koppelman

Major Bear at the Grove Park Inn by Donna Jones Koppelman

Major Bear at the Grove Park Inn by Donna Jones Koppelman