(lucy’s first day of school four years ago)
today is the first day of “school.” of course it is unlike any previous first day. usually we all walk over to the elementary school and the teachers are out on the lawn with big signs so the kids know where to line up. i stand near my children and take pictures of them and with them and with their new teachers. when they start marching toward the doors i follow (a reasonable distance behind) waving and blowing kisses and crying… i ALWAYS cry. except this year because they didn’t go anywhere. well…lucy went into the playroom where her desk is all set up and theo went to his bedroom. he has a desk in there, but prefers to sit on his bed with his big, navy study pillow. i DID suggest that it might be more productive for him to work at his desk, but i couldn’t in good conscience enforce it as i like to do everything in my bed (except eat because that is too messy.) i always studied in bed and i still frequently work in bed because i like to be comfortable.
(T’s first day of kindergarten … his shirt said “property of mom” … obviously he couldn’t yet read)
(1st grade theo)
(lucy’s first day of kindergarten and theo starting 4th)
(lu with her 1st grade teacher)
(theo meeting his 5th grade teachers)
(lulu and hank on the first day of 3rd grade)
(theo’s first day of middle school… i wasn’t allowed to blow him kisses on that campus)
i did TRY to take a picture of him today - he is now a freshman at boulder high - but he was not best pleased about that. he was already on his orientation call and was gesturing (quite rudely) for me to get out of his room. later he sent me this text:
(not the friendliest text…)
(he wouldn’t let me take an actual photo, but this is what theo looked like studying from his bed)
lucy DID allow me to photograph her. she was all dressed and set up with multiple devices like a CEO. she taped her schedule to the window and i am just waiting for her to start interviewing assistants to help her manage her new online projects. she really likes to delegate.
as soon as they both got settled i hopped in the car and made a beeline for costco. (i understand that most mothers wouldn’t leave their children on the first day of home schooling, but i’m trying to teach mine to be independent AND i figured that costco would be less crowded because of all the dedicated parents staying home. it WAS nearly empty so i was able to get through it quite swiftly AND in the interest of time, i did not stop for my customary hotdog as i was leaving, also because it was only 10:30 am, which is a bit early for hotdogs.) i realized that i will need to have a lot more food on hand now that my kitchen is also the school cafeteria. i am ordering them big industrial trays and trying to get my hands on some lunch lady hair nets. i am going to serve them tater tots with my big soup ladle.
(here i am serving my children lunch… this pandemic and the homeschooling has really aged me! photo: getty images)
even though it was not a normal first day of school, it did feel good to get back on some sort of a schedule. with the pandemic and the wildfires (the air in boulder is hazy, smells REALLY smokey and as my father likes to say, “is full of particulates”) and the latest horrific shooting in kenosha, the past week has felt like the apolcalypse. while i am generally a “glass is half full” person - it’s been rough. AND i’ve been in mourning because i finished the last episode of “schitt$ creek.” most of you have probably already seen that show, but if not, it’s hilarious. i may just start it from the beginning again because there is so MUCH to take in… the facial expressions from david, the hand gestures of alexis, the eyebrows on johnny and the styling and esoteric accent of moira… just outrageous. i have been trying desperately to get the accent down. but the BEST is moira’s coping strategy of climbing into the closet for a big cry. if something doesn’t let up soon, i may have to crawl into mine and just WAIL.
(schitt$ creek… AMAZING!)
(moira’s BIG cry coming on…)
(i may follow her in there soon…)
* update on the weather… we did FINALLY get some rain…the air feels MUCH better, although it is still a bit hazy. lucy ran right out there to taste it… she did NOT think to bring in the chair cushions though so they got drenched!
