First Day of School

If I could sum up how I feel every year about the first day of school, in one word, it would be bittersweet.

See, in my dream world, I would spend 24 hours a day with my kids, in a state of domestic bliss. We would do crafts and go on educational field trips and choose a unit of study every week and laugh and everybody would get along and we would all be happy.

But in my real world, I am not that organized or patient and my kids fight. Sometimes a lot. In the real world, they need a break from each other, and let's face it, from me. And I need a break from them. So every summer I have to let go of those dream world expectations and send them to school and know that it's for the best.

And even though it was not my idealistic version of summer, it was still a great one. One of the best ever. I will miss those lazy, carefree days, but I am also so excited about the return to structure and routines. I think I got more accomplished that first day of school than I did all summer!

Declan, age 4.

First year of preschool at Super Stars Preschool with Mrs. Heidi.

Sam, age 6.

First grade at Sage Elementary with Mrs. Seilbach.

Sam's JC Penney Back to School pose with the backpack that only lasted one day of school. He came home with a broken strap, as only Sam could manage to do!

Grace, age 11.

Sixth grade (!) at Pilot Butte Elementary with fresh-out-of-college Mr. Weber, who looks like he's not long out of sixth grade himself!

Liam, age 9.

Fourth grade at Sage Elementary with Mr. Dietz.

And how Liam's really feeling about school starting:

He's the only one that wasn't super pumped about school starting, but once he got there and met his teacher (and once I decided that he and Sam could ride their bikes to school everyday) he was a little more excited.

One month in school now, and everyone's happy. It's good to be back.