Lessons learned from back to school night(s)

This week was a doozy.  Monday was the 2^nd grade back to school night.  Tuesday was the kindergarten back to school night.  Wednesday night was the parent orientation for CCD and for me, a wake-up call for just how much of my Catholic education I’ve forgotten. 

I’m told that as a kid, I used to sing church hymns in the tub but, it seems with the passing of the years, I’ve forgotten not only many of those hymns but some of the Catholic basics as well – like the fact that the Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Communion both apparently take place in the second grade. This was just one eye-opening takeaway from our back to back evenings back at school; here are a few more.

1.     Second grade is tough.  Especially the spelling homework -- not the words themselves but the routine of how they must be written, then alphabetized, then used in a sentence. There is also some very specific page folding and numbering involved; it seems a lot more complicated than the good old spelling bees I recall from my youth.   What I learned from one night in second grade is that following directions is key to success... with spelling and the rest of the curriculum!

2.     Kindergarten is lovely.  There are songs, coloring, snacks, blocks and nap time. All of this appeals to me, especially the nap time.  I learned here that I would like to go back to kindergarten and I still like to color. 

3.     Our second grader is a conniver.  Of course we knew he could be mischievous at home but we thought he was an angel-child when we let him spread his wings.  Not so. His teacher very kindly told us that he likes to push the boundaries, see what he can get away with – like trading baseball cards between reading and arithmetic for example.  That is not allowed.  And so I was reminded once again that it's important to follow the rules and breaking them has consequences... in this case, there will be no more baseball cards for our budding little trader!

4.     Our kindergartner has a great voice.  And she’s not afraid to use it.  This I knew.  At home she's been known to shriek and scream like she's possessed.  However, in school, she uses the power of her apparently well-tuned pitch quite differently.  She confidently stands in front of her classmates and sings her name in the attendance song,  softly crooning like a pro. Who knew?! I learned I should listen more closely and that there is a positive way to channel that voice!

5.      We have to purchase a navy suit and white tie.  Seriously.  This is a requirement for those aforementioned Sacraments.  On the upside, when you consider the hand-me-down possibilities with our up and coming Catholic triplets, it will surely be worn more than once.  But really?  A suit?  A white tie?!  I suppose I learned that sometimes you just have to smile and play the part.  In this case, my sweet (can you be both sweet and conniving?  I think so.) second grader will be assuming the role of a more fully-fledged member of our church community and I will be the proud mama. 

That, perhaps, is my biggest takeaway from three nights in the classroom; I am indeed a proud mama.  And, I still have a lot to learn!

Tuesday Tip: Take it in Stride

The past few days have been full of firsts... and lasts.  Labor Day marked the unofficial last day of summer... and the first day of my fortieth year.  As we lamented the unfortunate end of the long days, carefree nights and relaxed routine we've grown happily accustomed to, we celebrated my birthday -- and anticipated the important upcoming firsts for our kids... specifically, Ciara's first day of kindergarten and Liam's first day of second grade, both of which were today. 

As you might imagine, there is a lot of emotion, anxiety and hope tied to these landmark events... turning the big 4-0, sending your only little lady off to kindergarten and watching your firstborn hop on the bus to second grade.  I can't help but wonder where the time has gone, how it passed so fast, and what the future will bring. 

As it turns out, my not-yet-five year old put it best when she hopped out of bed this morning and announced in a most matter-of-fact way "I'm a kindergartener now Mom."  The rainy day and fact that her "back to school outfit" never arrived in the mail didn't dampen her spirit; she just took it all in stride, inspiring today's Tuesday Tip. 

Take it easy.  Have faith in the what the future holds, for your children, your family and yourself.  It is so easy to get caught up in the hoopla of life's milestones, be they turning forty or the first day of school.  It's so easy to let external pressures invade your inner-most thoughts. "Am I really turning 40?  Can I really be this old?  Will there be a great big party?  Shouldn't there be ?!"  Or "Can I really put my peanut on a school bus?  Is she really ready to go?  Will she make friends?  Will she miss me?"  These and many other thoughts cluttered my mind for much of the long Labor Day weekend.  

Rather than enjoying the moment, (there were many enjoyable moments that included swimming, ice cream and pizza, just to name a few!) I was too busy fretting about what might come next.  Perhaps, at the end of the day, that's why they fly by so quickly.  Because we're all too busy worrying about what comes next.


Thanks to my brave, confident, sassy kindergartener, as I begin this next decade, I'm going to try to be more like her.  To enjoy the moment.  To take it in stride.  And yes, to even skip through the raindrops rather than let it rain on my parade.