Today is the first day of school. We just dropped Anna and Andrew off at Malcom Bridge Elementary for the first time. New school. New year. New start. Anna is going into second grade and Andrew into kindergarten. They were both so excited this morning. Anna couldn't even finish her breakfast. I remember feeling like that on my first day, knowing I should eat but feeling too full of jitters to make room for one more bite. Andrew cried last night because he was worried about riding the bus. I think his teacher is perfect for helping him to feel loved and secure. My heart is bursting with happiness for them both. They both seemed so brave as we left them, ready for their new adventure.
I was on Facebook this week and my friend Vonae Tanner wrote this about her boys. I thought it was so good and exactly how I feel. Read below.
"Concerns of a school mom .
How will my child fit in ? Will the pull of popularity move him to join the mean gang, will the shunning of the popular leave him wounded and insecure? Will he find a good friend, will he be a good friend? Will he turn to me in times of pain, will I be aware enough to know that's why he's out of sorts? Will he be able to endure the 6 hours of structured activity and instruction with only a 20 minute break? Will he dread the 20 minutes that he could be left lonely or picked on? Will he learn the curriculum? Will he learn the unwritten rules of social life? Will he learn his class route and locker combo? Will he remember and believe how awesome he is and that everyone is a
Little broken somewhere? And will he accept both his awesomeness and his broken? Will he be
Protected? Will I be able to both nurture him and make sure
He gets everything done each day that he has too? Can we get the to-do list done without breaking the spirit of growing up?
The only thing I can do is pray for him, for them all, for us all, and the most powerful, influential, meaningful thing I can do is pray for him. And for us all.
A free education is an amazing gift to be cherished. Awesome? Yes. Broken? Yes. Amen."
I always thought that I would be able to "control" my kids more than I actually can. I thought that telling my kids to stop and putting them in time out once or twice would solve the problem. I didn't know that the teaching would be SO constant. So, when I read this quote, it made me think about my own children. Will they remember all I have tried to teach them? Have I done enough to help them thrive? Have I given the confidence to be brave, to be a good friend even when it's not popular?
I started praying for their teachers. I haven't done that in the past but I feel inspired to do so now. Jinger Deason wrote to me and said that she's been praying constantly that her girls will find good friends and have the confidence they need. I felt pricked a bit because I realized that I could really be using the power of prayer much more than I am. So, from now on, I'm going to pray for their teachers and their friends daily. I'm going to pray that they can be kind and have courage to stand for what's right. I'm going to pray for their ability to learn and grow. I believe in prayer, so now I have to take that belief and turn it into action.
I think this is going to be a wonderful school year. I can't wait to see their progress. I have great hopes for all of their positive experiences.
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