We have slowly but surely been getting ready for Michael’s first day of first grade tomorrow…
On Saturday, we bought the backpack. Of course Sean had to get a backpack too. Guess which backpack belongs to which child :-).
On Monday I bought Michael’s first day of school outfit. My husband thought that I was a crazy woman to go shopping on Labor Day, but surprisingly the clothing stores were not that crowded. I did order his fall school clothes online though.
Then, earlier today I took Michael to the barbershop for a haircut. He was happy and striking a pose.
Somewhere between dinner and bedtime, Michael finally grasped that he was actually going to first grade tomorrow. That made it difficult for him to fall asleep tonight. He doesn’t want to go to school tomorrow. I won’t say all of the reasons why (that’s his story). I will say what I wouldn’t tell him: I don’t want him to go back to school tomorrow either!
One reason that I don’t want him to go back is practical. He is going to school for one day (Wednesday). Then he won’t be going back again until next Monday. I understand the reasons behind it, but it’s still crazy. Personally, I think that the kids should just start school next Monday instead of adjusting for one day and then having to readjust all over again next week. (I’m warning you in advance that you will probably read several “I don’t get the NYC DOE” posts now that the school year is starting back up. The schools and housing are the two aspects of NYC living that I don’t love, but everything else more than makes up for those two things. There is no perfect place to live, but NYC is as close as it gets. Just like everyone every place else, we compensate for the city’s shortcomings!)
The other two reasons are simply sentimental.
1. I just got my family “back” a week ago. Camp combined with other work literally ate up my summer. I blinked my eyes (or so it seemed) and the calendar jumped from July 1st to September 1st. I have really enjoyed the last week with our normal summer “loose” schedule. I’m not ready to give it up!
And
2. I’m not sure how Sean will react. Michael and Sean have spent a lot of time together this summer and they are super close. In fact, my three guys (Reggie, Michael and Sean) spent more time together this summer than ever before since Reggie was doing “Daddy Day Care”. I’m the one who is just getting back into the loop. Also, I still remember last year’s one toddler sit-in protest that Sean staged on Michael’s first day of Kindergarten. I’m hoping that the extra time with me will help compensate for losing time with his brother and Dad. Hope!
In any event, I really am hoping for the best…for all of us! Are you looking forward to the first day of school? Is your child?