In case you haven’t noticed by
the flood of adorable back-to-school pictures showing up in you newsfeed ;) Our
kiddos started school on the same day this year, and while talking on the phone
this morning we began talking about little rituals that we, or others, do every
year to begin the school year off right.
So we decided it would be a fun little post to share them with you, and
we would love to hear about any of yours!
Sarah:
This is my first year to join the club, and so I am at the very beginning stages of starting traditions with my little one, but I can’t wait to add to this list as the years go by!
The night before we just got her backpack ready with
everything she needed to bring, picked out her first day outfit, and got to bed
nice and early.
In the morning K was so anxious she woke up at 5am and
couldn't go back to sleep! So we got up and ready together. Over breakfast we
talked about her first day hopes and anxieties. I felt the best way to handle
this, other than just talking about it, was to pray together about her
beginning school year. I really liked
beginning the day with her like that, so it actually made me really start thinking
about finding a devotional for her age group that we can do together every
morning. I would like that to become an "every morning we are together" tradition :) So if you have any devotional recommendations that are good for kids please
send them my way!
It was then time to be off! Stopping of course on the way out
the door to get a “First day of…” pic
When we got to the school, I walked her to her classroom,
made sure she was all situated, and then awkwardly lingered for just a little
too long. Fortunately I wasn't the only
one, and several of us got politely shooed off with, “They have set up free
coffee for the parents in the cafeteria; it would be great if you guys could
head over there and get some before heading home!” My goal was to make it out of the school
building before bursting in tears, so there was no way I was making it to
coffee. There was a flood of anxiety as
I walked out of those doors and away from the school building, and I just gave
it to God all the way back to my car. That’s the only rational thing I could
think of to do.
The rest of the day went by pretty quickly (a huge plus side
to having a busy 16 month old toddling around).
Before I knew it, I was hustling out of the door to go pick up Miss K so
I could be there the minute they would let me have her.
When she got home we indulged in some homemade chocolate
cupcakes with pink frosting I had made her (inspired by a story my grandmother
shared with everybody on her 80th birthday celebration. She told
about her very first day of school, and how she was SO excited because her
mother had put a chocolate cupcake with pink frosting in her lunchbox, her
favorite.) I think this will be one of my beloved traditions to repeat every
year. I can just see as the girls get
older us sitting around the table eating chocolate cupcakes with pink frosting,
talking about their first day of school.
And that's about it in a nutshell! I feel like this has a bunch of grammatical errors, but I am
too tired to mess with them. So please
just kindly look the other way, just for today—it has been a hard day for this
momma! ;)
Meagan:
As I sit here and ponder this day, I cant help but think how truly BLESSED I am to be these two boys Mom...
Today I sent my 11 yr old to sixth grade and my 7 yr old to second. Fortunately, we didn't have to switch schools this year. So at least they were familiar with the campuses, but that didn't stop the anxiety for the three of us! Thankfully (more for my sake than theirs) I got to bring them lunch and hang out with them during their lunch time. It's a tradition that started when C was in Kindergarten, and a tradition that I plan on keeping as long as they let me.
Talking about traditions-- (we have quite a few). A couple that stand out to me is the night before the first day of school I wash all their new clothes. I love for their clothes not to smell "NEW". Once again this is more for me -- I am the mom of 2 boys!!! They could probably care less! :)
Any-who.. I also make sure they have clean sheets and blankets. There is nothing better than clean sheets. I love to hear C say "awe Mom- this feels like Heaven!" That is a feeling I hope they remember always. Lastly, I always try to make their favorite meal the night before school starts. Last night consisted of Hamburger steak with brown gravy, corn on the cob and mashed taters. All in all the combination of a meal they love and clean sheets with their beds made oh~so~comfy equals a great nights sleep!!
All I can do is pray that my boys have a great school year and that our Savior will bound his loving arms around them and keep them safe, while he opens their hearts to learning all the great things their teachers will teach them!
This is the verse I leave you with... this is one of the verses that will help us get through this year.
Joshua 1:9
This is my command-- Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
