My boys go back to school tomorrow, returning to the same elementary school they attended last school year. My eldest, he’s 6, is in first grade. He will be, for the first time, in a gifted classroom. My younger son, he’s 4, returns as a role model in the LEAP classroom at the same elementary school. My younger son has the same teacher but my older son will have a new teacher.

When I was a kid, since we were homeschooled, there was not as much of a build up. We spent all day at home during the summer too, outside of other activities, so not as much changed when we started the new school year. By high school and beyond, the start of school was more about the new work to me and was less about excitement.

I do have to note my obsession for and love of school supplies. The smell of freshly sharpened pencils, clean new notebooks, flags, highlighters …. I’ve been doing better with my hoarding tendencies since we have smaller space, but it’s so easy to justify expenses when they can be used all year. 😉

Watching the boys get ready for school and assisting as part of the PTA on the teacher/adult side, is a really fun new experience. Their excitement to see friends and to get back into a familiar routine is contagious. The adults are also looking forward to the kiddos having a routine as well.

We did a pretty good job, I think, of keeping them busy and also keeping them interested all summer. They did swim camp, science camp and rounded out the summer at Zaniac’s, the elder in Minecraft camp, which he said he would now like to attend year round, and beginning coding for the little guy–by the end of the week, he was doing pretty amazing things.

I have so many hopes and dreams for these boys and for this school year. We love their school and the community we’ve found there. We love the friends the boys have made and the families that we have connected with.

It’s gonna be a spectacular school year!!

Twas the Night Before School Started

Twas the night before school started
when all through the town
the parents were cheering
it was a riotous sound.

By eight the kids were washed
and tucked into bed
when memories of homework
filled them with dread.

New pencils, new folders, new notebooks too,
new teachers, new friends, the anxiety grew.
The parents just giggled when they heard of this fright
and shouted upstairs-GO TO BED-IT’S A SCHOOL NIGHT!