This Reminds Me

Archive for August 24th, 2009

First day of school here in San Antonio.  Where did their summer vacation go with those crazy, lazy days of my sleeping until 6 a.m. and eating sandwiches at the pool for dinner?  (sigh)

This year – four kids in four schools.

Hannah – 8th grade, her last in Middle School.  Julia – 3rd grade, she has to take the TAKS test this year (we’re already thinking about it).  Rachel – Freshman at UTSA.  She was there today to buy books; her classes start Wednesday, but her job in the KIN program (after school care) began today.  Lois – Sophomore in high school.

Homework started today, too.  Check out Lois’ pre-calculus pre-AP math assignment. Good thing she doesn’t need any help.   College calculus was the only class that ever made me cry.  I was soooo lost – the term “standard deviation” still makes me shudder.  I came home from UH that night and sobbed to my mom that I’d never understand calculus, I’d have abandon the whole BBA thing and become a ditch digger.

Sarah’s daughter – my great niece Laura – started kinder in Pearland today.  Nothing cuter than the kinders!

Send Sarah some Kleenex, I think she’s out now…..

As I was making breakfast for Hannah and Julia this morning, Keith reminded me – “This is your 14th year of doing this.”  Wow.  I guess it is.  Here’s what I’ve learned:

1.  Have all maintenance items current before that all-important first day.   Laundry, mail, bill pay, errands  – all of it.  Be ready to punt.

2.  Backpacks packed and ready to go the day before.

3.  Fund the lunch accounts online and early.

4.  Mondays are hard.  The first day of school is doubly-hard.  Plan on a good dinner to soothe the re-entry.  Tonight we had tacos with all the fixings.  Why?  Because we all like them.  And let me tell you, our dinner table rocked.

5.  Take a first day of school picture every year.  These were so, so handy when I created a graduation book for Rachel of all her school stuff.

6.  As soon as school is out – get next year’s medication administration forms to your pedi, all filled out and ready for signature.  Then hold them until August, when you deliver them to the school nurses w/the appropriate medications the week before school starts.  If you wait until August to consult your pedi – forget it, he’s on vacation or tied up in physicals.  If you wait until the first week of school to deliver the forms and medications – you may miss the nurse, or your kids may call for the Advil before you get it up there.

7.  Really important:  Have your pen, check book and clear return address labels ready.  Huh?  You don’t know about that?  READ THIS!

We’ve only been back in school one day, and just like Ferris – I’m ready for a day off.  How about you?

Anyone?  Anyone?