We just finished day 2 of our new school year!
I’d love to write that it has been a smooth start – no hiccups, no bumps, no whining, no tears but that would all be lies. Why would it be lies? Because my kids and I are human. The beginning of the school year is always a time for re-establishing boundaries and expectations. It is a time of adjustment and transition. All of which are hard things for kids and let’s be honest for the mom as well.
Ready for some comedy? Go ahead and laugh at some of the bumps in our first two days . . .
- Day 1 – 30 minutes after breakfast
Child 2: Mom I’m supposed to be reading Holes do we even own that book? It’s not in my basket.
Child 1: Ummm. I think we got that one at the library for me. No, maybe you borrowed it from the library to put on my Kindle. We definitely don’t have it.
Me: No, I bought that. It’s on the shelf.
Child 1: No we didn’t.
Me: You’re right we didn’t but we do now.
Child 2: It’s not on the novel study shelf.
Me: Think. Think. Think. Ummmm. Can you check the shelf by Dad’s desk?
Child 2: Which shelf.
Child 1: The one on Dad’s desk.
Child 4: Mom is this my math book?
Me: Yes, that’s your math book. Child 3, I’ll be right back to do your spelling. I’m coming. (Walks into the room where all the books are kept and walks over to the shelf, reaches out, grabs the top book and hands it to Child 2 – Child 1 is in complete awe. Child 2 shrugs and walks away)
Child 3: Next word MOM!!!!!
Me: pause, the word is pause. - Day 1 – 1 hour 15 minutes after breakfast
Child 1: Is this what I just relearned over the summer?
Me: Sure is.
Child 1: Well, I forget from last week then.
Me: Try it please.
Child 1: It’s too hard.
Me: Just try it. If you get stuck. I’ll help.
Child 1: I can’t do it. I’ll never be able to do it. Algebra is too HARD!!!!!!
Me: Just try it please.
Child 1: I don’t know where to start.
Me: Give it five minutes and see where you get.
Child 1: Whatever.
(20 second later)
Child 1: That was easy.
Me: (Trying my best not to roll my eyes) Good I’m glad you figured it out. - Day 1 – 45 minutes before lunch
Child 3: Mom, teach me my math please.
Me: I’d . . .
Child 2: Mom, it’s time for spelling.
Me: Okay, grab your . . .
Child 4: Mom, I need to read to you.
Me: Get the . . .
Child 1: Mom, will you grade my reading?
Me: I need . . .
Child 3: Mom!
Me: (hands in the air literally flailing) Help! I’m drowning in children! (raucous laughter by all) Okay here’s how we can do this. Child 3 sit right here. I think you know how to do this. Let’s do one problem while Child 2 is getting me the spelling book and Child 4 is grabbing the book he needs to read. Child 1 please hand me the date stamp and my pen. - Day 1 – 4 hours AFTER Lunch
Me: It’s the first day of school! We need pictures.
All of Them: WHY?!??!?!?!?!??! - Day 2 – At Breakfast
Me: We’re going to sing all 5 verses of our hymn today. Who wants a hymnal. (All hands go up but child 1 and 2 say they can share) Alright, Child 4 can I share with you?
Child 4: I guess. (We all begin singing)
Me: (singing the verses in the wrong order as I’m trying to make sure everyone can follow along) - Day 2 – 1 hour after breakfast
Child 1: Where is the alkaseltzer?
Me: We don’t have any.
Child 1: Oh, I need it for an experiment.
Me: Did you make me a supply list like you always do?
Child 1: No. I guess things are still like last year.
Me: Sure are. Post it note it and we can do it Monday. I need some for the brothers for a different activity anyway. - Day 2 – 2 hours after breakfast
Me: Child 4 bring your book with you, we’re going to pick up groceries.
Child 3: Can I come too?
Me: Great! Bring something along. Everyone else can work while we’re gone? Yes.
Child 1 and 2: Yes.
Child 1: See you when you get home.
(Drive to store helping with school work as we go)
Me: (Grabs phone at the store to put in the space we’re parked in for pick up and sees text)
Child 1: (Text message) Mom, all I had left was math when you left and you aren’t here to teach it.
Me: (facepalm, text back) Do the review problems and I’ll be home shortly.
Child 1: (text back) Can Child 2 check my answers? - Day 2 – Right after Lunch
Child 3: I still need to read.
Me: Okay. Can we run around and play for a bit first?
Child 3: Sure.
Me: Great. We can come back to it after an hour.
Child 3: Okay.
(30 seconds later)
Me: Son, why are you sitting and reading?
Child 3: I wanted to.
Me: Yes, but didn’t we just establish it was time to run and you could read later. Not to mention we need to finish reading for school before we grab that book.
Child 3: Oh, is that what I said okay to?
Me; Yes, yes it was.
Child 3: Oh, alright.
No one has perfect first days or likely any days. What matters more than perfect schedules and planning is how you react to one another and the relationships you build together. Treat one another with kindness. Give grace. Move on.
This year I’m going to be sharing lots of tips and tricks for keeping your school year smart and simple on our social media accounts and in our email list. They’ll be lots of stories of bumps in the road and ways we are working through them. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and in our email list for some giggles and some practical steps you can take to keep your school year smart and simple.
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