Ours was something like this...
9:30 am:
"What time does Tierra's Kindergarten Class start?", I ask (still in bed because hey, its an off day).
"11:56."
"11:56? Seriously?", I say, thinking that is a very specific time.
Rebecca: "Well, one paper says that and the other says Noon."
Chad: "hmmm."
10:17 am:
Eyepod is charged, mower is gassed, time to mow the lawn. I enjoy mowing the lawn, except when I skip a week or two like I did this time, because then the grass is so long that I have to empty the bag way too much. I also use lawn mowing time to catch up on my podcasts. I subscribe to several ESPN podcasts, and everyone is talking fantasy football, so lawn mowing time this week doubles as research!
11:24 am:
Chad: "Rebecca? What time is it?"
Rebecca: "Eleven-twenty-four."
Chad: "Already? Geez."
11:25 am:
So I forgo the shower and cleaning myself up for Tierra's first day of school and wear my "Cyprus Football" T shirt and some very old tan shorts. Plus socks up to my calves and hiking boots that I always mow the lawn in. Plus I am sweaty from yard work, and grass clippings have filled up my shoes and stuck to my sweaty shirt. I remember wondering if I would get heckled for wearing a Cyprus Football shirt in West Jordan. They should just be glad it isn't the one I wore while in High School!
11:40 am:
I take a picture or two of Tierra for her first day of Kindergarten.
11:46 am:
We make the 3 minute drive to the elementary.
11:52 am:
We have an unplanned reunion with most of the parents from our neighborhood in front of the school. I take special note of which of the dad's are present and which ones aren't. My whole motivation is to somehow think that I am better than them at some future point when they do something cool.
11:57 am:
I guess Noon was the correct time eh? I first think this and then say it to Rebecca. No answer.
1200 Noon:
Are the teachers allowed to be late on the first day? I also think this first and then say it.
12:01 pm:
Rebecca: "Are we bad parents for not having new clothes for Tierra?
Chad: "No, I don't think so. Look at that kid, those can't be new! Besides, Tierra likes what she has on." I mull this over for a minute and think that it probably was some bad oversight on our part to not send our kid to school in a new outfit. I always looked forward to the new pair of shoes I would get each school year. I don't much remember my clothes, but I remember new shoes, even the year I had to have the new Jordan's. I didn't even like basketball much (you may recall from an earlier post!) but for some reason I had to have the Jordan's. Looking back now, I wish I would have been more like Alex Keaton and been a tight-wad with money. The Jordan year was the first time I had to pay for part of my clothes. Probably because my parents didn't want to buy shoes for 125 bucks either. That was 8th grade. The second or third edition of the Jordan Nike Air sneakers. I think I traded them a few years later for some baseball cards and a Reeses Peanut butter cup. Anyway, I digress.
12:06 pm:
Teachers come out and call for the kids. Kids line up. Tierra walks into school with a huge smile on her face. No tears from mom or dad. No wishing she was a year younger and that we had more time with her. Rather, "How early can we drop Eli off at preschool?"
"Not this early," Rebecca says, "it doesn't start until 12:30."
So that was our first day of school. Eli's first day of preschool, for this year anyway, was a day earlier. We had that day without any fanfare as well, but we did take a picture.
Still didn't take one of Haylee though.
6 comments:
A-freaking-men to the way you took your kids. I'm with you but I'm thought of as a cold hearted.
I'm not so sure about what you wore though............Im hoping it sounds worse than it was. My kids actually run away from me on the first day especially Ella.
Your theme was a stretch but it gave me a good walk down memory lane anyway.
Do you have a feeling bone in your body? You didn't even get a lump in your throat?
Look it's not that I'm not glad to see them go, I am, but the lump in my throat comes automatically. Maybe it's that I grieve for the end of the carefree days for them, knowing that they've got at LEAST 17 years of school ahead of them, preferably 19. Maybe I cry for me, cause now after-school homework hour just got doubled with another one in school, and along with homework, the school fees and fundraisers and volunteer hours just doubled.
Anyway, I think Tierra's outfit is cute. I'd have guessed it was new. :)
My most favorite episode of television ever was of the Christmas Carol version with Alex P Keaton and he ended up at the 7-11 on the morning of Christmas because it was the only store opened. Great show. Tierra looks all spiffy and ready, the new clothes are over rated, they just get holes in them anyways. Eli is pulling a Matt face, maybe you should ask for a test!!!
Hey, if it makes you feel any better, Maya didn't wear new clothes to school either...but hey, she wore what she wanted to wear and she was happy about it...I guess that's what matters, right?
Jason
Cute kids! This year I told my kids that they could have a limited number of new school clothes because it's still hot. Why buy new "school clothes" when you are really buying winter clothes that they can't wear yet. We got some stuff and I told them they can get new pants and long shirts later.
I admit that I cried when my kids went to school. I swore I wouldn't and I was happy they were going to school. I didn't cry because they were going to be out of my sight, I was sad because it means they are growing up and going out on their own for several hours and day and making decisions and becoming responsible little people. Doesn't that make you want to cry a little??? It's a happy cry - - just let it out :) BTW, I love Family Ties and Alex was my favorite.
I have now sent 5 kids to their first day of Kindergarten. I am happy to say, that I have not shed one tear...ever, over going to school. Well, I may have this year, with tyler starting kindergarten, I came home to an empty house and I may have wept tears of joy. It's been over 12 years since I've been alone in my house.
I do buy them one new outfit for that first day...but the second day they look like street urchins so I don't think it really counts.
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