Already?

A new school year already? I am shocked that I am saying this, but I am really not ready for the summer to be over. We had such an enjoyable summer, and I am fighting the return to the rigors and routine of the school year. I was completely happy with the flexibility of the summer and would have appreciated just one more week of that flexibility. Whatever happened to the days of starting school right after labor day?

Oh well - like it or not - the first day of school has come and gone. Our morning started with the usual first-day jitters. Three girls, all unsure about what the new year held in store for them, ate about 3 bites of toast for breakfast, collectively. I am a big believer in breakfast and it was all I could do to not feed them their toast intravenously so they would have plenty of energy and brain power on their first day of school. But with threats of vomiting and comments of "I'm not hungry", Brad reassured me that they were just nervous and that it would be OK. Alright, I gave up on pushing breakfast, but only for today!

The girls were very prepared for their first day of school. The bags of new school supplies were loaded in the car the night before. Anxious to try out their new lunch boxes, Katie and Lacey happily packed their lunches last night without even being prompted by mom. Madi wasn't quite so anxious - but then again, she's pushing 13 and in her last year of middle school. You wouldn't expect her to show too much enthusiasm would you? Amazingly, everyone got out of bed on time this morning and quickly dressed for the day. After trying on several new outfits this past week, the girls knew exactly what they wanted to wear to school today.

Lacey, 1st day of first grade

Katie, 1st day of 5th grade

Madi, 1st day of 8th grade

3 sisters together - 1st day of the very last year they will all be together at the same school

The nervousness mounted as we drove to school. Madi wanted the drive to take longer than usual while Katie was worried about being the last student to walk in the door of her classroom. Lacey wanted to know if she could just go back to kindergarten. Once inside the gates of the school, all was well when the girls were greeted by friends and teachers. With the girls all tucked away safely in their classrooms, Ben and I walked out the gates of the school and he asked me, "where my Lacey go?" We promptly went to Target & bought Ben a new accessory for his Thomas train set so that he would have something new and entertaining to do when all his sissies were gone for the day.

Nap time brought a silence I haven't experienced for almost 3 months. I missed my girls. Ben missed them too. He woke up and came downstairs, looked at me and said, "Mom, where Lacey?" "She's at school, Ben." "Where's Katie?" "She's at school, Ben." "Where's Madi?" She's at school, Ben." "Oh," he said, somewhat disappointed. I thought, "get used to it buddy, it's just you & I for a few more years to come."

We all survived the first day of school and soon enough, we will all fall into our new routine. And I know myself well enough to understand that also, soon enough, the silent afternoons will be something I look forward to with anticipation. So - bring on the new year! Lacey, for one, can't wait to go back to first grade tomorrow, and Madi, who doesn't get to have recess anymore, wishes she were a little kid again.