This morning I drove my 7th grader and Kindergartener to school for their first day of the year. Being a classroom teacher, I’ve never gotten to do drop off on the first day. I haven’t taken the token pictures, handed them their backpacks, or watched their little backs as they walked into school. Kudos to my wonderful husband who has taken on this role the last few years… but today I got to experience this. I’ve poured over their pictures all morning. A bittersweet feeling as I miss them dearly and am simultaneously SOOOO glad to have them out of the house.
It wasn’t until I sat down later that I realized I myself have had a “first day of school” every year since 1983! From kindergarten to college, and straight to the classroom. Between my own education and my career, the school calendar has been emblazoned on my whole world. And while I’m thrilled to be able to celebrate my own children by witnessing their anticipation and (later) exhaustion- it feels a bit melancholy to not have a mile marker of my own.
So as a dear friend suggested, I am creating my own inaugurative milestone. ( Let’s be honest- the alternative to this is a slippery slope to bingeing Bloodline on Netflix and Buffalo Chicken Dip.)
Today I:- Made a schedule. With time for daily webinars, reading*, and writing.- Bought the good pens at Office Max. You know what I’m talking about. The good ones. All mine.- Added a fresh set of highlighters to the cart. – Made the darn buffalo dip for lunch.
* speaking of reading, in order to appease my serious 10-year-long Amazon habit of ‘purchasing and not finishing’ educational books, I’m challenging myself to read a book a week. I’ll feature it at the bottom of the blog. Just finished up these two gems today. Started as a trauma strategy resource, and ended as the best parenting book I’ve read in years. If you only get one, The Whole-Brain Child is phenomenal.
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Teaching the Good Stuff 