Tuesday, August 21, 2012

The Beginning of The Rest

kindergarteners
New Kindergarten recruits at our bus stop.
The kids started school on August 11, Hank to Kindergarten and Laura to sixth grade, which is in middle school--a new school--for us around these parts. I joked about how I was going to go home and cry forever and all that, but I have never really been that way. I have always felt happy for them with each new unfolding of the scene, and ready for all of us to try something new and different. Another mom of a new Kindergartener said, "I just feel like this is the beginning of all the rest of everything."

sixth grader
Laura was ready and eager to the max.
I will confess that I did feel my throat constrict ever so slightly when Hank gave me a smack on the lips, said, "Bye Mom!" and ran toward the bus, waving over his shoulder.

bus

I felt a small throat-tightening and eye-squinting, but it could have been allergies. Yeah, probably. But I wasn't worried about him. I mean, I knew that whatever it was gonna be, he would deal, in his way. His shoes were double-tied, there's a bathroom in the classroom, and the kid is not afraid to speak up for himself.

Actually, Hank was famous among the elementary school faculty before the first school bell rang. The week before school, we got picked up at the bus stop for Kindergarten Round-Up, where we all ride to the school and have tours and activities. The kids separate from the parents, so I didn't know what Hank said or did while he was with his group.

Then, a few days later, I ran into the PE teacher, who is a tennis friend of mine. She said, "I heard a story about Hank." I was like, Lord. What. She said that the principal had begun their faculty meeting that morning by telling about an incoming Kindergartener she'd heard introducing himself at the Round-Up. She said, "This little guy told the class, 'My name is Hank, but please call me Lone Star.'"

That kid.

But I knew it was true because as we were boarding the bus for the first time, he'd asked the driver to call him the same thing. The other moms in the front seats just completely died. "Lone Star?" they laughed. I was like, this is news to me too.

So he's already making his mark.

And Laura has been in some rarified girl-realm of pure excitement all week. She loves sixth grade, she loves changing classes, she loves her locker, which she has decorated with magnets, a little chandelier, and a beaded curtain. This is a thing, locker decorations. I think all I had was a picture torn out of a surfing magazine, but I am old.

bus stop

I walked Laura to the bus the first day too. And she wanted me to wait with her, but I wasn't allowed to hug her or speak too loudly. I suggested she go introduce herself to the other kids, whom she hadn't met, and she was like, "No, they're big kids." And then she asked me to stop taking her picture with my giant camera. And I was like, "You mean like this?"

no more pics plz
"MOM!"
There are lots of new rules for me now. But these sixth graders hit the ground running. They already had their first sixth-grade dance on Friday after school. Or really it was more of a mixer. I asked her and her friend if this was the kind of event where they would dance with boys, and they were all, "Good grief no!" So what it turned out to be was a bunch of bouncing around and group line dances. Laura and her bud led the group in the Cotton Eye Joe, to the surprise of nobody.

So here they are world, I have released them into your care and now I'm gonna go get a froyo.

Back to school is back to blogging. I have been up to a lot, and I am sure you will be hearing about it all. Just wanted to poke my head in. What is up with your schoolkids? Perhaps you live in a civilized part of the country and you still have three more weeks of summer vacation? Super jeal.
xoxo

27 comments:

yelladoesstuff said...

A few things. I was under the assumption that I had been too busy to keep up with your blog this summer and was looking forward to spending some time catching up with my imaginary Internet friend, Becky, this evening. Well, that's a no-go. Caught up. Took a few minutes. Crap. Now I have to pay attention to my family.

You may not have cried, but seeing Hank gallop to the bus made me burst into tears and may have possibly, maybe, made me run upstairs to my napping 18 month old with the intention of grabbing him out of his crib and hold him...forever. I stopped at the door.

Thank goodness for the Lone Star moment, or I'd still be a puddle of tears. And probably a few errant hormones.

Enjoy "the rest". Report back to us noobs.

yelladoesstuff said...

A few things. I was under the assumption that I had been too busy to keep up with your blog this summer and was looking forward to spending some time catching up with my imaginary Internet friend, Becky, this evening. Well, that's a no-go. Caught up. Took a few minutes. Crap. Now I have to pay attention to my family.

You may not have cried, but seeing Hank gallop to the bus made me burst into tears and may have possibly, maybe, made me run upstairs to my napping 18 month old with the intention of grabbing him out of his crib and hold him...forever. I stopped at the door.

Thank goodness for the Lone Star moment, or I'd still be a puddle of tears. And probably a few errant hormones.

Enjoy "the rest". Report back to us noobs.

Aimee said...

Welcome back! I need to come back, too...but school is still two weeks away.

It is totally the beginning of things. I've never been particularly weepy at the beginnings of school years. They're just so exciting!

Common Household Mom said...

Those first grade recruits look insanely cute, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. And RUNNING to the bus! Run like the wind, Lone Star!

For us, school starts in 2 days. I can't wait.

Jenni said...

You mostly know how things are going in my neck. O had some weird brown meat for lunch, and a ham and cheese sandwich at school for breakfast?! It's weird.

Cassie said...

Lone Star is getting so TALL! I cannot believe it. And Laura... so pretty.

We don't start school for another two weeks. And then I will have one full timer and one part timer. I, too, look forward to the new stages that the start of school brings. But mostly I look forward to the peace and quiet.

I have missed you. Glad you are back!

Amy said...

I'm not that way, either, with the tears, but the last first day of K in my life got me and got me good.

However, this year's first day, (yesterday; first grade) felt like nothin' but freedom. Swish - and it's on to the next of the rest.

Good gosh, that 6th-grader. She is somethin, and with that silky hair ;) xoxo

Cassi said...

My daughter is going into 6th grade too, but that is not middle school here --just the last year of elementary. Which is good for her, because school starts tomorrow and she's all worked up right now because she has to write a few things down about "trail-blazers" (first-day homework, but super easy). But she's kind of anxious at all transitions, so I figure once tomorrow is under her belt, she'll be happy :-)

Beth said...

I'm so excited for school to start I'm going to pee my pants. And yet... it doesn't start for us til Sept 10. It's like, why even bother? It's almost Christmas break!

I'm also never weepy over these transitions because I'm too busy being elated. I probably don't take enough time in the moment to realize these days are fleeting, but I'm just so excited to have some hours to myself I can't help it.

Where. in. the. WORLD with the Lone Star? Do you have any insight on this?

And goodness me, what is the Cotton Eye Joe?!

Elizabeth said...

I was wondering where in the heck you are, and here you are, as good as ever.

My daughter has started school, but my two sons don't go back until after Labor Day. Middle school (6th and 8th -- here they come!)

By the way, I love how you're looking forward to each new stage. I'm much the same, feeling only twinges of melancholy over what's already gone.

Steve said...

I dropped my oldest daughter off at college last week for her freshman year. Talk about throat tightening and eye squinting. My allergies have been just KILLIN' me ever since. I am sure they have developed into a chronic condition at this point with no end in sight, unfortunately.

Becky said...

Yella, I have been a bad Internet Friend, I'm sorry! And I think holding your baby forever is still a good plan.

Becky said...

Was it maybe a grilled ham sandwich? That seems more breakfasty? Hank bought the school lunch one day but was not pleased with the line, so I'm back to making lunches.

Becky said...

Two weeks is an eternity, Aimee, not to worry!

Becky said...

Enjoy the quiet house!

Becky said...

Thanks Cassie! The quiet in the morning after they both leave was deafening at first. I kept thinking there was a kid in the house somewhere and I'd have to remind myself where they were.

Becky said...

The silky hair, LORD. And I forgot K is a year ahead of Hank. So worldly.

Becky said...

Big night at your house. Good luck tomorrow!

Becky said...

Lone Star, I have no idea. Another of his aliases is Froggy G. And I'll ask you what people are asking me, what are you going to do with your time now???

Becky said...

Yes, that's exactly it E, just twinges. I mean, we don't want to freeze them in amber. I guess.

Becky said...

Aw, Steve, those allergies seem very widespread these days. If you hear of any remedy, let us know. And congratulations to you guys for a successful launch!

Ginny Marie said...

Such cutie pies! I just love how the little ones were running for the bus! Our first day is this coming Monday, and I'll have a big Kindergartener and a second grader. It seems like just yesterday that they were my babies!

Veronica said...

Sounds like the start of a great year! Having both kids in school sounds like the promised land to me...

Anonymous said...

I love my gym locker & am so excited to hear I can buy a chandelier for it. There is actually a homeschooled child in our orbit (not mine) who is v sad to be missing The Locker. I told her mom, "You can buy one at The Container Store & put it in her room; that's not a reason to enroll at school," lol.

School doesn't start here until after Labor Day & obvs mine don't go, but it's still exciting to put down the frantic, sun-all-day visiting and up-all-night lawlessness. Our relief in the remitting crowds in DC is great & freeing. Then at home in our real house in a nominal college town, we can't ever get away from the permeating, back-at-it culture of the school year, either. So even if the children don't go to school, there is still all of the same kind of quiet, here anyway.

"Lone Star." Hilarious.

Lisa Lilienthal said...

LONE STAR! As if Hank is not a badass enough name. Love him. Love her. Love that you are back. We need you.

Lawyer Mom said...

"Lone Star"? Wow! He might be a Texan -- and a conservative, at that -- bless his dear little heart.

Star said...

May the Cosmos bless 'em! And you and yours. Loved the post...as usual. Thanks so much for sharing.