Back to School

Yesterday was the first day of the new school year. I've been looking forward to work load getting a little lighter around the house, but I already miss the easy unscheduled days!

The kids almost popped out of bed when I woke them up. They were excited to meet their teachers and see their friends. Lauren was little bit nervous about being at school for a full day, but that was a small concern compared to the backpack dilemma.

"What if my teacher gets mad? Maybe I should find my Princess backpack," she worried.

I took the kids out a few weeks ago to pick out a new backpack. I knew if we waited until the week before school started, all the cute ones would be picked over. Lauren found a really cute pink one with wheels. She was really excited about it and couldn't wait to use it! She convinced me let her take it to Grandma's house a few times when she was having a sleepover.

Last week, we got a letter from her teacher in the mail with a list of supplies for her to bring on her first day. On her list was a "backpack with no wheels". I thought that was a strange request. Half of the kids at school have backpacks with wheels because they get so heavy. Hmmm.... What to do.... Well, we already bought a backpack with wheels and it couldn't be returned. It really isn't Jessica's style at all, so a trade wasn't going to work. Jessica doesn't want anything "too pink and girly." I decide to just talk to her teacher on the first day. If that is really what she meant, I would get her another backpack.

The morning was like a mad dash getting all the kids ready, lunches made, and backpacks double checked. Jason usually takes the kids to school, but I like to go on their first day and walk them to class. I like to meet their teacher and see what room they are in and just be there if they are nervous or anything.

We got into the car and checked to make sure Ashlyn's stroller was in the back. Austin, who will be starting 5th grade this year, said, "You guys don't need to walk me to my class."

"Oh, that's okay Honey. We want to, " I said. We were just down the street. I could already see the line of cars piled along the curb in front of the school.

"Uh, no really! It's okay! Can you just drop me off at the curb?" he asked a little more urgently.

Jason looked at me with raised eyebrows as if to say, "should we just drop him off?".

I shrugged. "Alright. Are you sure?" I asked as we joined the string of cars.

"Yep! Thanks! Bye!" his hand was already on the door, ready to jump out as soon as we came to a complete stop.

"Wait! Me too!" Jessica called already climbing over the seat.

Ah... sad... my kids are getting too big! I looked at Lauren as Jason was trying to find a more permanent place to park. She was looking out the window at the swarm of kids and clutching her backpack. Her eyes met mine. "Are you excited?" I asked her. Her eyes got really big and her voice came out almost a whisper, "Will you talk to my teacher as soon as we get there?"

I felt terrible. She was with me when we read the list. She loved her backpack and liked the idea of just asking her teacher if she really wanted a backpack without wheels or if she was just trying to say they weren't going to have to bring home heavy books. If I knew it as going to cause her so much anxiety, I would have bought her another backpack.

She seemed to forget about her backpack as soon as we got out of the car. She saw a few friends from her class last year and from church. We found her room and I introduced her to her teacher. (Austin had the same teacher for 1st grade.) I asked her teacher about the backpack and Lauren was relieved when her teacher said it was okay. She said the backpacks with wheels are sometimes too big for the 1st graders, but its okay if they wanted wheels. Whew!

So, this is the first year that I don't have a picture of all of my kids on the first day of school! I really can't believe how fast they are growing up!