First Day of School: Resistance is Futile


As you probably know, public school began in NYC last Thursday. Honestly, I had no idea how the transition would go for my two sons. Sean is starting kindergarten and it’s his first time being in consistent full day care of anyone else, since his pre-k was only 2 and ½ hours a day. Meanwhile, Michael is beginning third grade. His teachers have talked so much about the standardized testing that begins this year that he was not looking forward to the end of his test-free school experience. In addition, we had a really great summer. (My teacher/husband Reggie and I were both at home with the boys for the first time ever this summer, so we all had a blast.) Suffice it to say that none of us – especially the boys – were eager for the structured school year to start.

In the few weeks leading up to the day, family and friends would ask Michael and Sean were they ready to go back to school. Both would answer with an emphatic “no”.  It actually was kind of funny until the beginning of last week. We have an elderly neighbor who likes to joke around with the boys. When we went to get our mail on Tuesday and Wednesday, he asked the boys, “Are you going to school on Thursday?” While Michael responded, “yes”, Sean would say, “maybe”. Okaay. On Wednesday, I told the kids what time they needed to get up in order for us to get to school on time the next day. While Michael immediately went and set their alarm clock, Sean responded, “I don’t know if that is going to work for me.” Alrighty then! At some point, I shared the message from the top post image that my friend Joan had sent to me on Facebook. I assured them that resistance would not get them anywhere…they were going to school.

After all of the g&cing (what we call grumbling an complaining, something that I don’t tolerate a lot from my kids), the kids were totally fine on Thursday when it was time to go to school. They both had great days. The next day was Sean’s first full day. Once again, both boys were just fine.  Ironically, I was the one who ended up having a hard time on Friday! It seems as if I should have been giving myself the “resistance is futile” talk…

As Captain Jean-Luc Picard of Star Trek noted, “The moment that I have dreaded for nearly six years has finally arrived….”

While I haven’t exactly been “dreading” this moment (when both of my kids are in full day school), it definitely marks an end to a defined period of time in my life. I’m a book lover, so I see my life as “chapters”. My work dream in my twenties was to get my own separate office at work. (Don’t laugh…that’s a big deal in “space is at a premium” NYC.)  I was happy to accomplish that. Granted, it was a month before I went out on maternity leave, but it happened! 🙂 My dream for my thirties was to be able to stay at home with my kids and be their primary caregiver until they were both in full day school…while remaining in the black financially. Once again, that’s not a small wish when you live in NYC and are married to a teacher. Fortunately, as of Friday that hope was fulfilled too! Now, what? I have some ideas, but I don’t have this huge, pressing goal…yet, so Friday was a big, weepy “ending” day for me. It made me think of this quote from the movie, Hope Floats:

“Beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it’s the middle that counts the most. Try to remember that when you find yourself at a new beginning. Just give hope a chance to float up. And it will.”

Fortunately, I’m over the “bitter” part of “bittersweet” now. I’m actually one of those people who get excited about the question mark times of life…I can’t wait to see what this new, unnamed chapter brings! In any event, how was the first week of school transition for your family?

{Post image from livefamily.com}


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