We got back into town 9 days before School started. 9 DAYS!! And yeah, I'm well aware that I did this to myself, and I wouldn't have changed a thing. But, I mean, who starts school in the beginning of August anyway? It's ludicrous! We did manage to sneak in a few more fun family activities before school started (going to a water park with friends, out to ice cream for my birthday, and to see a movie), but the rest of that frantic week was spent buying school supplies, decorating lockers, figuring out schedules, meeting teachers at back to school nights, and trying frantically to wake up "early" - aka before 9 am (7am Utah time) to get ourselves over our jet lag.
Nothin' like tube sharing for double the fun!
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| Not sure what Aly's doing in the picture - everybody else seemed to know it was being taken - even her friend! "Inside Out" really hit me right. Maybe because my kids deal with moves all the time, maybe because I'm on my second "Tween" right now, or maybe because I was remembering when I was that age - maybe all three. Anyway, I may have gotten a little teary - which is actually the point, right? Since it's a movie about emotions and all. ;) |
So, each of the girls handled going back to school in their own way, totally in line with their personality. Aly wasted no time hooking back up with friends. On back to school night she had no interest whatsoever in meeting her teachers or seeing where her locker or classes were. Instead she just wanted to run around visiting her favorite teachers from last year with her friends. I mean, after all, she's a seasoned 8th grader, right? She's got this. And actually, she does. As the Go, Go, Goer that she is, she's really good at managing her time and staying on top of her classes. And even though the social aspect is her number one priority, she is one smart cookie, so she gets excellent grades as well.
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| This is Aly and her friend Lindsey on "Twins Day". Their fave teacher from last year, who nicknamed them "The Wonder Twins", is posing in the background. "Wonder Twins Power - ACTIVATE!" |
Analise's approach, as a new to Middle School 6th grader, was to make sure to have the perfect backpack, lunch box, and locker decor to compliment her personal style. We had to go to 3 different stores to find the right wrapping paper for the inside of her locker because she wanted Lime Green, black, and white, as her theme colors. I was getting a little nervous that we weren't going to find what she wanted, which would equal disaster, but it all worked out and, I have to say, I think her locker turned out pretty schnazzy. While decorating, we also did the whole "mock school day" where she'd walk to each of her classes in order and have to open her locker in between each "class" to make sure she was ready for the first day. She passed with flying colors and has done a great job jumping into middle school. She's really stepped up the responsibility and is acing all her classes. Go Lise!
Kate's approach to starting 3rd grade was to, I don't know, just be overall excited and intense about the whole event - picking out a new backpack, shoes, and school supplies, laying out her clothes for the first day of school to look like an actual person's lying on the ground, knowing who was in her class, meeting her teacher, and being obsessed with the theme of her room this year (which is Owls, by the way.) With her intensity, Kate really is a sweetheart and I love seeing her zest for life - it makes me happy. I also love her teacher this year, Mrs. Hayes. She is the perfect teacher for Kate! Her room is set up completely for stations, the kids are allowed to work independently at different stations on pillows or with a clipboard, and she breaks them up by achievement level so that each of the kids are always being challenged. She told me at Parent Teacher conference that she loves how Kate is smart, funny, and really happy and kind to the other kids. While she wants to teach Kate to be a little more respectful in waiting her turn and not yelling out answers, she doesn't want to squash Kate's enthusiasm for learning and discovering. I so love when the teacher gets my kid and she and I are on the same page. It's going to be a great year.
And then there's Kylie. To use a phrase from My Little Pony, Kylie, in true Pinky Pie fashion, was "Nervouscited" (Nervous + Excited) One minute she was telling me about all the things she was going to do in Kindergarten, and the next minute she'd be wanting to snuggle in my lap and tell me she didn't want to go to school.
Luckily, they had "Kinder Kamp" the week before school where the kids got to spend a 1/2 day with their teachers and the other kids, went on a tour of the school, and did some fun activities to calm any jitters. Kylie's teacher, Mrs Valentine, is super fun and upbeat, with tons of songs, games, and mini plays to make learning fun. Kylie has also found a BFF in her class that just moved in one street over from us. She loves riding the bus with Bree and doing playdates with her. Kylie is doing great with rhyming words, sight words, and learning to read out loud to me. She bounds off the bus everyday with a big smile so I would say her school career is off to a great start.
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| This is right before the kids start a puppet play about colors and shapes. |
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| This is Kylie's class at their color picnic, where they had something to eat from every color in the rainbow - even pink lemonade! |
Kylie and Bree sitting together at lunch. Gotta love hat day!
And as for me? Having my youngest start kindergarten has sparked a lot of questions about my well-being and how I'm making the transition: Am I lonely? Do I enjoy all the freedom? And most of all - What am I going to do with all my free time? Well, let me tell you. First off all, let me dispel the illusion of free time. I still have to do the laundry, grocery shopping, dishes, etc. - in other words, be a homemaker - same as I did when I had kids at home. The only difference is that I don't hear Kylie playing upstairs while sorting the laundry or have her in the cart at the grocery store.
Actually, the transition has been easier than I thought. It kind of flows along with my train of thought in deciding that Chris and I were done having kids - as much as I loved those baby and toddler years, I am ready to move on to the next season of our lives. Because for one thing, now that the older kids are getting into sports and dance and Young Women's/Activity Days, whatever quiet and peace I get during the day is totally made up for by the after school craziness and running around. I just don't know if I could handle the craziness of teenagers and the craziness of babies/toddlers at the same time, ya know? So yes, I am enjoying a little more freedom in my schedule to get myself and the house in order so that I can be ready for when the kiddos get home and the mayhem begins.
And finally, am I lonely? Well, yes, a little bit, but not in the way you might think. There is a part of me that is mourning the loss of my Toddler Mom Social Life (Selfish - I know!) For almost 14 years, being a mom with little kids has been my role, who I am, how I make friends. Whenever we'd move somewhere new I would go to playgroups and Library story times to make friends. I'd schedule play dates, meet at the park, swap babysitting, and do preschool in my home as a means of socializing with other moms. So now what? Since Kylie has started Kindergarten a couple of my friends have taken their kids to the zoo, the park, etc. and it's just assumed I won't go because they're "taking their kids" to the zoo and I'm supposedly at home eating bon-bons and reveling in all my new found freedom, right? I do sometimes get the pity invite ("oh, you're welcome to come too if you want"), but it leaves me feeling a little awkward, not knowing where I fit in. So it's left me to wonder, "the next time we move, how am I going to make friends?" Luckily as I have observed other friends examples and taken their advice, I now have a few ideas - start a meal prep group, exercise group, book club, back to school brunch, make friends at the soccer games/dance/cross country,etc. So, phew! I'm feeling a little better about things and finding my new nitch. I will miss those great times I had during those toddler years, but am excited for the new stage ahead and all the fun excitement it has to offer. So here we go - full speed ahead!
So yeah, there you have it. I know that above diatribe may be silly and a little over dramatic, but hey! - everybody's been asking me so I thought I'd share. ;)
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| Look at how cute she is. That backpack is almost as big as she is!! |
So anyway, amazingly enough, we pulled it all together in the nick of time.
'Twas the night before school,
and all through the home,
not a person was sleeping
The kids wanted to roam.
The backpacks were hung
by the front door with care.
In hopes we'd have shoes, breakfast and lunches
before the bus got here.
Phew! We made it!!!
