Who Said School Was Easy?

Thursday, September 25, 2008 by Bethany

When my son went to his first day of school, I didn't cry. And haven't cried. In fact, I can boldly say, I won't be crying about it any time soon. He loves the place. Asks about school each and every night before bed ("Mom, do I have school tomorrow?" If the answer is yes, he squeals in delight. If it's no, he moans). I can't ask for a better school experience, can I?

Nope. It's all good. Except...

Except the morning routine is awful, awkward, and going to kill me. It's about a half hour earlier than our pre-school routine. And it requires me to make another lunch and/or snack. Get my daughter's crap together for the sitter, and me out the door and presentable. Which, on a good day, is next to impossible (but yes, we manage). Somehow it's just not feeling right. And I can't figure out why.

Maybe it is because the school never prepared me for the fact that I will have to walk him there every day and wait the obligatory 5 - 7 minutes until the bell rings and his teacher comes out to get him and his classmates. Or maybe it is the constant asking for me to volunteer at the school during the middle of the day (which, as a working mom I can't do). Or the notes home about fees for school supplies. Or his inhaler which he needs but can't carry with him (which drives him crazy). Or the fact that he likes to stay at the after school program til the very end--and there are days I just want him home early so I can finally unwind and relax. It could be the homework that comes home on Friday for a Tuesday due date. Or the feeling of constant half day schedules. Or lunch money. Or show and tell days. All things I have to remember but just don't have the brain power to handle.

Can you tell it is wearing on me? It was hard to be a working mother when he was younger and in day care. But this? This is harder yet. It makes me want to crawl in a hole and not come out until he is 18. Or 12 when he can walk to school himself, monitor his own homework (I hope), and I can leave him home by himself unattended for a bit of time out for myself.

Labels: , , ,

2:32 PM | | 0 comments

A First for Everything

Saturday, September 06, 2008 by Bethany

It's been a week of firsts... the first day of Kindergarten for my son, giving up the morning coffee runs, stepping outside my comfort zone, and for 20 minutes I had no idea where my son was (and I was over 40 miles away). That last one, nearly threw me over the edge of insanity.

Let me set the scene. It's the second day of school. The first day where I would be working IN the office and my son was to attend the after school program. Sounds simple enough doesn't it? It's 1:50pm and it's an early dismissal. All of which, I had sorta forgotten once I jumped in my car to drive all hog-wild to the office so I wouldn't miss a meeting.

I'm discussing the future of my department with my boss, concentrating on making the best impression, and expressing thoughts on how we need to position this new deliverable we are creating (can I sound any more Corporate? Sheesh, you might as well start Buzz Word Bingo right now).

My phone vibrates.

Mid-sentence I grab it and glance at the caller ID. It's a number I don't recognize. But it is the area code from the Kiddo's school. Panic runs through me and I answer--mid sentence.

"Mrs. Hiitola?"

"Yes." Four pairs of eyes are watching me now.

"Your son is supposed to be in the after school program right?"

"Yes." Breathing turning shallow. I jump up from my chair and rush out the door to the hallway.

"He's not here."

"Where is he?"

Silence.

"His teacher didn't bring him to the room?" My blood pressure sky rockets and I try to maintain some sanity to my rising voice. "Where is he?"

Thankfully this young woman (and she is all of 20 years old if that) had enough sense to say something sensible. "I'll check the office and have them put a call out. Let me call you back."

Before I could think of 50 places my son could be she hangs up. And I am in a stupor outside a clear glass conference room. One where all the attendees are watching for my return. I was Terrible Thought 20 (Someone else picked him up. A creepy someone else. Or he walked home and was standing on the steps. Alone. With no where to go. And then someone approached him...)

With nothing else to do while I waited, I went back into the conference room, took a deep breath and continued talking. And worrying. And sweating (there were rings of sweat I swear). And staring at my phone. Until, she called back.

My son was in the office. He'd asked a teacher where to go. And well... long story short, he did the right thing. And he was safe. And there.

It was one of my worst nightmares. In short, it was multiple errors. Second day of school, I was in the office, different than the first day of school madness, son was confused about what/where the "after school program" was, and the teacher didn't remember to bring him where he needed to be.... and hell, blame could be placed everywhere. But in the end, all that mattered was my son.

Not the stupid meeting I was attending. Not my job. Not the conversation I was having. And not the fact that I just interrupted a meeting four times so I could then TALK to my son to make sure he wasn't terrified of school. Or the after-school program. All that mattered was he was safe. And when I high-tailed my ass to go get him, all that mattered then, was his hug.

Labels: , , ,

8:06 PM | | 10 comments

It's Back To School Time

Wednesday, August 29, 2007 by Bethany

Though, I am no where near going back to any school. The Kiddo has a whole year left to wait. And the husband isn't even thinking school. So why am I all nostalgic?

Because I was the bookish girl in the corner that loved school. Or the idea of school. The homework, quizzes, and politics of it all was really a drag. Especially when homework was always done late the night before (yeah, I was one of those kind of kids. And I was still a mostly A student. Imagine what I could have done if I prepared?).

What I loved about a new school year was the idea of a new beginning. Sure, last year might have ended on a sour note, or without a banging success. But this year? Well, it was all new. And most of the stupid antics that went on in last year's social studies class, or the crappy football game where I froze my ass off and lost a boyfriend at the same time are gone. Mostly forgotten to memories of summer parties and laziness. Not to mention in college, this week was SO the party week before school, I miss it just thinking about it. Nothing but a week of irresponsibility, fun, booze, and no classes. Aw, how I miss it!

Every new school year brought promises of new hang outs, new boyfriends, new past times. And if I was lucky, new popularity. Though I never made it up high on that scale. I was too nerdish. Hell, I got good grades. That knocks you down a level in high school anyway. But still, there was always a good time to be had. Expectations of them were much higher in that first week and month of the school year than any other time of year. I was the first to pull out my freshly pressed, never worn button up blouse on that first day of school ready to start it off on the right foot. At least until I'd survived a week and realized it was going to be a lot like the year before. And headed right back to the library to read a favorite book.

Though, I must admit, without the leaves turning color yet, it doesn't quite feel like fall. Or the beginning of a school year. I mean, I see the signs on all the schools welcoming kidlings to the first days of the rest of the academic career. And I notice the backpacks, buses, and noises from the school playground. But it just doesn't seem fall-like and crisp-like the first day of school days of my past. Has school been pushed forward that many weeks (months) than it has in the past? Or is it just a change in the weather that makes for a more GREEN first few weeks of school than what I am remembering?

Anyway for anyone going to school, heading back to the old books, escorting their children to their very first day (or back to another first day), hope this year lives up to everything it can be. I mean, it is a new beginning of some kind. And all that matters is we make the most of it. Even if the leaves of fall haven't joined in for the party yet!

Labels:

3:52 PM | | 0 comments