My kids? Not so much. I mean, I think they think it's kinda cool, but if they have any feelings of liking it, they hide it well. When I would bring the subject up over the summer, AJ would pretty much ignore me.
When I mentioned that we needed to get him a backpack, he actually asked, "What for?"
I said, "Um, for school, dude." He replied, "Oh."
I've been trying to convince him of how much cooler first grade will be than kindergarten was, that he's a big kid now, going to school all day just like the rest of the kids, and that he gets to eat lunch there with his friends. I tell him how smart I know he is and how much he's going to learn this year.
AJ does love to learn, but he is a serious playing kid too. Gotta play Xbox, ride his bike, learn to skateboard, hang with friends. He just doesn't like that school means less time for all that.
10 Things I'm Thinking About as Back-to-School Approaches
1. I'm a wee bit concerned about the District's readiness this year. They haven't yet finalized the school year calendar. Camryn's middle school decided to use a new scheduling software, so they didn't have class schedules ready on orientation day. And they made the first day the 5th instead of the 4th.
2. AJ is super excited that his kindergarten teacher moved to first grade and he was placed in her class again this year. He thinks Mrs. V is the best! I'm sure this helps him feel like first grade might be OK.
3. I am trying to contain my excitement that my kids will both be gone until nearly 4:00 every afternoon. Well, every day that is a regular school day. Because, let's face it, there are a lot of no school and half days too.
4. Now if I could just get Home Depot to schedule Mark's hours during the week more.....
5. As much as I look forward to my beloved offspring being out of the house most days, it really is a bittersweet thing. School is a whole chunk of my kids' lives that is completely separate from me. It's THEIR own thing. I can ask how their day was and what they did till I'm blue in the face, but they often don't share many details.
6. AJ will get on the bus at 8:54 and I will go for a walk at 9:00!
7. I asked Camryn what she hopes for 7th grade, and she said, "That she gets an elective." I asked if she'll be OK if she doesn't, to which she replied, "Yeah, I guess." Please, oh please, let her have passed the stupid standardized test last spring! Or, better yet, let them have done away with that terrible rule.
8. Camryn needs new shoes because she's a freaking size 6 1/2 now!
9. I'm going to try to get myself to an eye doctor in order to start the process of getting me some new glasses. I haven't had my eyes looked at since we moved to Washington over 9 years ago, and I've had my current pair of glasses even longer. I know, I know! It just hasn't been a priority.
10. It's time to tweek our sleep schedules. Have to get up earlier, so we have to go to bed earlier.
This is the very first year since Camryn started school that I felt like summer flew by. It's been real. It's been fun. Now I'm eager to begin this new chapter in our lives. My hope is that my kids will learn lots and that I will be ready, and even excited, to help them with their homework each afternoon.
Wish us luck for staying motivated and organized!
