This post is sponsored by Hallmark.
And the winner of the $50 Gold Crown card is Emily E. Congrats!!
Last Tuesday morning, otherwise known around these here parts as First Day of School, dawned bright and early as I hauled myself out of bed at dark-thirty to make myself presentable to appear at the bus stop. My girls, both anxious to get up and start their day, wanted to get up with me, but I convinced them to stay in bed for another hour.
I came downstairs and carefully packed lunches and started breakfast before I went back upstairs to get the kids. Naturally they were wide awake an hour before, but took some persistent prodding to get them out of bed when it was no longer optional.
Finally my husband and I managed to get all three kids up and dressed and spit-shined and downstairs for breakfast with no time to spare. We barely manged to grab a few pictures before the bus came rolling down the street. I guess I should have let the girls get up with me at dark-thirty, although it is my sneaking suspicion that no matter how much time they had, they would have been cutting it close. It’s just the way we roll.
The first day of school was a big milestone in our family this year. Because our school district still has half-day kindergarten, for the first time ever, my first grader is at school for the whole day. She was beside herself with excitement. She had her outfit planned for weeks and her Hannah Montana lunchbox carefully chosen. When I asked her what she was most excited about, she stated decidedly, “Eating lunch in the cafeteria!”
Alright then.
My son, on the other hand, thought the subject matter in the fourth grade sounded interesting. We’ll see if he’s still singing THAT tune in a few weeks.
Our three-year-old didn’t start school till Thursday, but she happily put on a new fall outfit in honor of her teacher orientation later that morning and joined the big kids in the obligatory back-to-school pictures in front of our house.
Finally we put the two big kids on the big yellow bus and waved as they rode off into the sunset, or the sunrise, in this case.
I can assure you, no tears were shed in this house on the first day of school. As much as I love and adore my kids, I was eager to reclaim some semblance of peace and order to my days. Summer was *just* long enough to keep my sanity in tact. While I wouldn’t mind a few more weeks of warm weather, I am certainly ready for time to work uninterrupted and run errands without an entourage. And my kids are ready for structure and stimulation that I don’t provide here at home. So as far as I’m concerned, it’s a win-win.
I have been making a concerted effort this year (or for the past week, anyway) to get up before the kids and make their lunches and get breakfast started before they get up. It’s really made our mornings run a lot more smoothly than they used to. This morning I even took time to sit down with my coffee and eat with the kids, which I could tell they enjoyed. I really want to encourage you busy moms, even though I know what a rat race these school mornings can be, to try to make time to sit down and eat with the kids. Even if it’s just one morning a week, it really helps to get the day started off right.
*GIVEAWAY*
In honor of back-to-school season, Hallmark would like to offer my readers an opportunity to win a $50 Gold Card. To be eligible to win, simply leave a comment on this post, telling me about your back-to-school experience this year.
And finally, going to school can sometimes be a stressful and hectic time. Hallmark has put together a great resource to encourage moms as our kids go back to school. For sharing your child’s biggest concern about going back to school, you’ll be entered to win a prize package valued at $500. Check it out.
Back to school has been so smooth, at this point. I am glad that I made the decision to wait until school started before purchasing school supplies, because I avoided spending money on stuff that the children wanted vs. what they needed. Sure, most of the stuff was picked out, but what they found was needed.
My oldest son’s biggest concern about starting back to school was starting a new school….because everyone else was just starting there as well. They built a new elementary school, and everything was new. Principal, equipment, and 1/2 of the teachers.
No back to school memories this year, since we don’t have any kids!
Back to school was a little tough this year because my 1st grader isn’t much for change… After the first day he was fine!!! Preschool for myyoungest started today for my ‘baby’… He did not hesitate. No tears for either of us
Back to school was a milestone for us as well. Finally got both kids back into the same school. My son is in 8th grade and my daughter started 6th grade, which means they are both at the middle school…for one year. Our school has multi-age teams, so both kids have the same teachers, which means I can keep track of homework for them both more easily! They were happy to get back to school and see their friends and get back into a schedule. And I was glad to have then starting school at the same time and the same place.
Thanks for the great giveaway!
this year i have grandkids- 6YO girl and 5YO boy. their mother is going to homeschool them. the boy is happy he doesn’t have to go to daycare, but the girl is missing her friends and teachers from kindergarten last year.
we have agreed that she will join girl scouts and GAs at church, and i will take her to the kids craft classes at lowe’s on saturdays. hopefully this will help fill her desire for socialization.
good giveaway, great hostess!
Lots of big milestones for us this year that I think will keep going throughout the year. My oldest started her senior year of high school–she might as well be in college because she’s NEVER home. My youngest started middle school and has been just a little bit anxious about it.
I don’t think life ever, ever slows down. And that’s a good thing.
I don’t feel “back to school” yet, because I’m working on preserving produce and writing a blog and haven’t started planning for 4-year-old homeschool yet. We’ve done a few activities off the cuff, and it’s delightful to work with my son again. It’s a bit bittersweet not teaching in a school, but I can’t say I miss it, really.
My girls went back to school on 8/17 so those first few days are already fading from my memory!
It’s been a great start, except for the sickness that kept my youngest out of school for almost a week. Today is her first day back and I’m feeling a bit lost without her!
I found your blog when looking for a granola bar recipe. Our kids have been back to school for a month now. One of the things I did this year that has been a huge timesaver is to make a whole loaf of peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. I made the sandwiches & put them in individual bags, then pop the whole bread bag full of sandwiches in the freezer. My kids all pack their own lunches and so in the morning they just grab a sandwich from the freezer. By lunch time it is thawed and ready to be eaten. It has made the lunch making process so much easier for the kids and for me- less nagging to get it done.
Sadly, no real back to school events this year. Someday, I’ll continue my mom’s tradition of baking cookies on that day!
I don’t have kids, so my experiences are vicarious through my sister. She’s already written a funny post about kindergarten “homework” here:
http://seriouslykk.wordpress.com/2009/09/14/monday-monday/
What a great giveaway! My 3yo started preschool this year so it was very exciting. The school is close to our house so my husband and I both walked him there on the first day. It was so fun!
My daughter had her first full morning of preschool today. She was so excited that there were no tears and no reluctance. In fact, she doesn’t get the hoopla and really did’t want her picture taken. She did enjoy her special French toast breakfast and has requested grilled cheese and a pickle for lunch!
Our back to school experience is finally starting to smooth out. After a week of racing around the house trying to get everyone presentable and out the door, I decided that we needed some structure. We now have chore charts that include getting dressed, making beds and brushing your teeth/hair. The kiddos get to stick a sticker for each item they complete. I have never seen them get ready so quickly without complaint! We have actually been ready early the last couple of days!
This year, our whole family exited the standard classroom. My husband and I both quit teaching, and decided to homeschool our kids. So this “back to school” experience has been an experience of togetherness. I not only eat breakfast and lunch with my kids, I cook it for them, while they do their work. I know the intimate details of everything they’re studying, AND how they’re responding to it. Because I’m now responsible for providing them with social outlets, our family is busier than ever dashing around to soccerballetchessclubchoir, all week. We can’t depend on a school to do it; we have to do it ourselves. And although the kids may not like having us right in their faces even MORE than when we were at school building with them all day, I hope they will appreciate the very hard work we’re investing in them, because we love them.
My oldest is in third grade this year, and my middle daughter started kindergarten. The transition has been extremely smooth. Georgia comes home every afternoon and tells me which kids were on “red” that day on the behavior chart. She told me that she is planning to be on “green” for the entire year. I hope that holds true!
Back to school this year entailed getting my 3-year old ready for the fall session of her preschool. She is a very independent girl, thank you very much, and loves going to school. She was a bit sad though when she learned that the big yellow bus wasn’t coming to pick her up so she could go to school all on her own. I think the only tears shed on her 1st day of “real” school will be mine.
Back to school was crazy for us this year: Our oldest daughter started HIGH SCHOOL!! Our son started middle school, and our 3rd daughter, 5th grade. Yes, 3 kids, 3 different school, 3 different start times. It has taken some adjusting, but I think we finally have a routine going. The baby still doesn’t understand where her “kids” are at.
But does get super excited to see them walk in the door.
Oh, and YES I did shed some tears…I mean, HIGH SCHOOL?! It was just ‘yesterday’ that she went to Kindergarten. It goes too fast!!
Ah, so now I have two boys at school…….oldest one is in 2nd grade (he’s old hat) and my five year old just started kindergarten….I thought that it was really cute how my seven year old was speaking with all the knowledge of a high-schooler, reassuring my youngest about the bus ride, the hallways. I take pictures outside the house every year on the first day, but this was one was special. It was nice to see my older boy taking good care of his younger brother. Precious.
School started earlier than usual, and the most difficult part was waking my son, who is NOT a morning person. His sleep schedule all summer was crazy, so that first day was a little stressful for everyone. Also, one of my carpool kids never showed up when I went to pick everyone up. A routine 15-minute trip ended up taking 50 minutes by the time we tracked him down.
My kids aren’t in school yet but my daughter will be starting next year which makes me a little sad
(
I love Hallmark and would love to be entered in your giveaway!
Back to school is always a breeze with Boo, but this year was a bit different. She needed to match her cast to her outfit…I kid you not! It took us a week to find the “perfect outfit Mom!!”. Man alive, I was ready to scream.
But, now that she is cast free (yeah!!) she doesn’t care what she wears. Love it!
BTS has been fun, crazy and full of a little drama as my 5th grader learns to get used to a new teacher and new expectations. Fortunately we’ve had no outfit drama!
back to school for us this year has been so exciting, what with our new setting at the waldorf! by the way- so nice (and FUNNY!) to run into you today at KWF! next time we’ll have to meet there on purpose, and do lunch!
My back to school experience with my daughter was awesome. Over the summer my daughter and I started going to garage sales. She fell in love and every Tuesday would go outside first thing to get the newspaper and look for garage sale listings. So on Friday’s off we would go. During this time she learned that you can get good quality items cheap. In turn, we ended up buying about half of her school clothes at garage sales. She had so much fun and my pocketbook was happy!
Guess which professional scrapbooker forgot to bring her camera to the First Day of School??? Yup, that would be me.
Bad Dobby!
OK, so I must confess, it was just preschool. The three-year-old class at that. We had already been for the open house and all, but on that pivotal morning, yesterday, the first day of school for my son, we were all getting ready (the hubby even had the day off) and grandma shows up at the door announcing the “Grandma Bus” was here to bring the kids to school with a stop to eat munchkins at the beach first. The kids were thrilled! I was a little sad, but let it go so they could have fun instead of me having my ‘goodbye’ moment.
Happy kids = happy mom (most of the time)
The big news at my house was that my just-turned seven year old boy would be going to school ALL DAY EVERY DAY for the first time, for first grade. After 4 years of partial day/week schooling (M/W morn 3 yr old preschool, MWF morn 4 yr old preschool, M/W allday, halfday Fri Young 5′s, and then M/W allday, halfday Fri Kindergarten), I was definitely ready!!! And he seems to like it pretty well (:
The bad news is that my just-turned 3 year old boy couldn’t go to the preschool class he was signed up for because he isn’t fully potty trained. I know in a few yrs I’ll look back and laugh, but right now it’s kind of tough….
I’m Auntie Em to many. The toughest this year was one who started middle school. We’re a couple weeks into it and she still can’t open her locker
actually, i had the worst day of all of us i think. i got so stressed out about timing and parking, and pick-ups, and timing and parking, and when to leave and what to do with my free time…the girls did great! they had a wonderful first day of school. i can’t believe how easily and well they transitioned. and things are finally getting ready for me too!
Back to School started too early this year! It went smoothly for my kindergartner and second grader at first. Then the teachers realized that my Kindergartner needed extra help so they put him in special ed =( That is finally going good. Now my second grader is having trouble listening and following directions which is causing trouble with his grades. I am sure everything will start getting better soon, I just have to keep praying. Thank you for the giveaway.
Daughter: no stress, loves school. But she’s married now and I don’t have to worry about her. ha, I still will.
Me and Son: Our problem is medical – it is hard getting up and the same time everyday and making it to each and every class! We’re way past second alarm clocks or even thirds.
Back to school was very late where we live – September 9. I was feeling horrible about this until I learned Whitney’s (of http://www.mommieswithstyle.com) oldest didn’t start until 9/14. Is it really fair to families across the country to have such a HUGE range of school year ends and starts? It makes Summer planning kind of tough. Oh well, glad I found your blog through Whitney’s post with your group photo with Jillian Michaels!
My kids are grown up and out of school, but I do live across the street from an elementary school, so therefore I get to deal with the traffic of parents dropping kids off and the school busses right when I need to leave for work in the morning! One more reason why I LOVE summer!
My daughter is not in school yet but back to school makes me sad because her cousins are back in school and now we only get to see them on the occasional weekend.
Since we homeschool, our BTS meant clearing off the dining room table, juggling around some furniture to accommodate a few new school desks, installing new lighting, two conferences and retreats (ahhh), lots of school supplies, and three kiddos in their jammies learning lots of new and exciting things! Ok, maybe ‘exciting’ is a stretch, but at least I’m *trying* to make those times tables a little more fun!!
WendyLou – Mom to 6th grade, 4th grade, Kindergarten, and PreK.
My daughter’s only in daycare, but she did start in a new classroom this week. She hasn’t been too happy with mommy when I drop her off this week, but I know that 30 seconds after I leave, she’s fine.
I don’t have any kid’s. I do have 2 niece’s staying with me now for a month though. The oldest is starting Pre-school in October! Thanks!