First day of school many moons ago
You guys, I am loving your back-to-school photos. The beginning of a new school year holds such promise. We are all giddy as a spirograph of emotions spins within us and we swell with anticipation. Bird and Deal are off, and now my house is quiet, and my dog lies at my feet basking in a patch of sunshine. He is missing his people and wondering why the house screams in emptiness. He won’t leave my side, as if he knows that I am a tish lonely, too.
I am not the mom who celebrates back to school with wild abandon. It’s not that I’m a happy-go-lucky fun, doting mom who swoons at every breath. In fact, I go all Mommy Dearest more than I care to admit. But I do like having my babies in my nest. Granted, there are plenty of times I understand why some creatures eat their young, but for the most part, I enjoy my sons’ company. I simply like having them around.
They say the days are long while the years are short. This sentiment rings true every fall as my children start school. It’s admittedly difficult to manage the summer of bickering and whining, especially on the heels of an extended family trip abroad. Suffice it to say we had a lot of togetherness over the summer. There has been no shortage of family time. Many parents are eager for school to begin and celebrate the comfort of peace. I have one foot in that camp, but I also miss having my kids afoot. Their time at home is short, and we have entered the phase that they spend more time away from me than with me. It’s the natural progression of things, apron strings be damned.
Along with the regular angst of a new school year, there’s a nor’easter of hormones thrashing around here. Mac Daddy should take cover from the storm of puberty and peri-menopause. The road ahead will be smoothly paved in some spots and rocky in others. We will lose our footing. Most importantly, we will reach out a hand to help each other up. Book smarts is the least of what school teaches. Don’t get me started on the testing. I hope that my sons learn to be compassionate, independent, and confident. I want them to unleash their creativity, imagination, and curiosity to whirl it into wisdom. I want to learn from them as much as they learn from me. I want them to love learning.
The beginning of a new school year is but a step on the path of lifelong learning. I hope they continue to find inspiration and joy amongst the inevitable stress and frustration. It’s wonderful to watch my kids grow. It’s the growing up part that’s hard.
