August 15, 2007
the first day of the rest of their lives
The morning wake up today went like this: at 6:30, both boys were still sound asleep (of course). I opened their bedroom doors and turned on lights in the hall and the jack-and-jill bathroom and waited. Henry buried his head under the covers while Charlie got out of bed, turned off the bathroom lights, scowled at me, closed his bedroom door, and got back in bed.
I turned the lights back on and we started all over.
Last night, long after the boys were asleep, I remembered that Charlie needed a beach towel for rest time and a complete change of clothes for his cubby. I realized that I had never shown Henry his belt, or let him try it on. I did NOT remember that today is a Holy Day of Obligation, one which requires attendance at Mass. And a dress shirt and tie.
Charlie came to breakfast fully dressed, and repeatedly announced, “This is the FIRST TIME Henry has EVER worn a UNIFORM!” Henry tucked his shirt in and buttoned it all the way up and put his belt on. When he was buckling the belt, he said happily, “I am a FIRST GRADER!”
The boys were ready to leave the house a full ten minutes before we really needed to go. They picked up their bags and started out the door, and when I said it wasn’t time yet, Henry said, “That’s okay, Mom. We’ll wait in the car.”
Last night, Henry said, “I can’t go to school tomorrow. I’m sick.”
“No you’re not,” I said.
“No no! You’re supposed to ask me what’s making me sick,” he directed.
“Okay,” Wade said, “What is making you sick?”
“I’m SICK of CHANGING SCHOOLS!” he said delightedly, and started to laugh.
I know that in the next week someone will insist that he’s not going to school and someone will cry at the drop off. It might even be me. But today, we danced and laughed and celebrated the fact that Charlie is FIVE and Henry is a FIRST GRADER. And it was all good.
Posted by Susan @ 8:15 am • just happy to be here, those damn kids
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August 15th, 2007 at 8:41 am, Catherine Says:
Your boys are crazy handsome. I *love* little boys in glasses. It makes them look extra cute.
Glad your first school morning was uneventful.
August 15th, 2007 at 9:04 am, Liz Says:
Yay for the first day. I am glad it went so smoothly!
August 15th, 2007 at 9:39 am, Miss Valerie Jean Says:
First days are so bittersweet. Your boys are just sweet.
1 week to go ’til school starts here. It will be our very first day ever!
Must go find my paper bag….
August 15th, 2007 at 9:48 am, An Iowa Mom Says:
Enjoy it while it lasts. Sounds as though it went about as smoothly as it could have gone.
Cute pictures!
Enjoy your day. Whatever will you do?
August 15th, 2007 at 10:05 am, Jen Says:
Just delurking to say that your boys are so handsome! I’m a Catholic school girl myself, and remember how great it felt to put on a uniform for the first time, just like the “big kids.”
Love reading your blog.
August 15th, 2007 at 10:55 am, Melissa Says:
Yay! And did they get their pink pearl erasers?
August 15th, 2007 at 12:01 pm, Susan Says:
I found a reasonable facsimile of the pink pearl eraser and sent that. And then realized this morning that I never got Henry a sketchbook for art. Dammit.
And so far today I have dropped off a book at Henry’s old school, returned a pair of shorts to Ann Taylor Loft (and possibly gotten a dress in exchange), gone to the dentist (three cavities! hooray), and picked up groceries.
I’m ready for a nap.
August 15th, 2007 at 12:23 pm, Lisa Says:
Seems like everyone else starts school so early! We don’t start here until after Labor Day. I still have 3 weeks until school starts here AND we haven’t even gone on our summer vacation yet!! (but we leave Saturday!). I still have some time before sending my oldest off to 2nd grade and start my middle girl in kindergarten!!
August 15th, 2007 at 12:24 pm, Sheryl Says:
Huzzah for smooth beginnings!
August 15th, 2007 at 1:12 pm, mek Says:
They look so cute, so happy - just what the first day of school should be!
August 15th, 2007 at 3:54 pm, txhorns Says:
Dang. I just realized (after reading your post) that it was a Holy day. Ah crap. Thanks for the Catholic guilt about missing Mass. Augh.
August 15th, 2007 at 4:04 pm, Susan Says:
You’re welcome! I’m sure if God will forgive me for sending my heathen children to a Catholic school, he will forgive you for missing the Feast of the Assumption.
Also, Henry wants you to know that Mass was REALLY REALLY LONG.
Amen.
August 15th, 2007 at 7:22 pm, Annie Says:
Oh they are so, so handsome. I can just see the pride radiating from them. I’m glad their first day of school went so well (even if mass was REALLY REALLY long). Congrats to them and to you for getting them this far.
August 15th, 2007 at 8:32 pm, Tater and Tot Says:
Those boys are CUTE!!!
August 15th, 2007 at 8:38 pm, gorillabuns Says:
celia was also excited! i love it that she WANTS TO GO TO SCHOOL. little does she know, due to my plans for her future, she will be going to school, long after she is of legal age to drink alcoholic beverages.
August 15th, 2007 at 9:11 pm, Jordan Says:
Oh, my God, they are so cute. Love those stories. And your older son looks SO MUCH like you!!
August 15th, 2007 at 9:40 pm, Sarah Says:
I love it! I got a report from my spy (my mom is a teacher at Big Boy’s school) that he was happily leading the song, “5 Little Bears Went To Bed” in preschool today. The first day of school, ahhhhh, ’tis a beautiful thing!
August 15th, 2007 at 9:42 pm, MaryP Says:
Aawwwww… All that glee.
August 16th, 2007 at 9:25 am, Mara Says:
Gee, am I the only one getting an ACDC vibe from that first picture? All he needs is an electric guitar!
August 17th, 2007 at 6:36 pm, MommyWithAnAttitude Says:
My kids are with Henry — Once in a great while I think out loud, “maybe we should go to church?” NO NO! It takes a LONG time at church! They shout.
Cute boys you have.
August 25th, 2008 at 8:10 pm, Friday Playdate » and on the eighth day God said, “You CLEARLY do not have enough to do.” Says:
[…] this year I didn’t write any heart wrenching posts about the first day of school, or about how Mah Baybee was starting KINDERGARTEN this year OMG how is that POSSIBLE?!? […]