It's real!

I am the mother of a high school student. I dropped him off this morning at THE HIGH SCHOOL! It seems like it was just last week that I was hearing his babble on and on about the Pangaean Puzzle in the Magic School Bus Travels to the Center of the Earth PC game.  He looked quite handsome today and the BEST part was that when he got out of the car he saw a FRIEND and lit up and faced his day.  I'm not sure if he was nervous. I'm not sure if he was scared. What I do know is that he is ready! He has broken the ice with kids through summer school and summer theatre camp and he has his supplies and schedule and he can get in his locker and he has lunch money in his account. He is READY!

My dear sweet Will was up immediately with his alarm and hit the showers and breakfast table with a smile on his face. On our way to school I asked if he was excited and he said he was looking forward to his new teachers! Who says that?  I expected, I'm happy to see my friends, or I'll be happy at 3:30 but no, WB was excited about his new teachers! It's going to be a GREAT year because he does have great teachers. No pressure Ms. Tran!  He traveled light today with just PE clothes that he doesn't even need yet but he wanted to be prepared. He also took with him the summer reading book that he has gotten through at least twice and possibly three times.  It was engaging and compelling and it was great for boys and girls. I wish i could have been in on the discussions today.  Bet they are going to be enlightening.  He left the rest of his supplies at school last week. He has got a handle on the whole MS thing so I am expecting great things.

I settled into my quiet house with a big gulp of water and two miles on the treadmill. No tears today but I will miss my boys. They are the light in my life and I want the BEST for them in everything. I am so pumped about the POSSIBILITY of a new school year. I pray that the boys have the day they have (don't want to put too much pressure on them) and that they come home ready to share the ups and downs with me. I am their biggest FAN!

Back 2 School

It is almost like January around here. There is a sense of new beginning. There is an opportunity for a fresh start. There are new schools, new classes, new teachers, new routines.  There are new clothes, new shoes and new friends.  There are new habits and new opportunities.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE back to school time. I love school supplies and freshly sharpened pencils and a clean notebook. Many years that I send the boys off I wish deep down that I was the one with a new teacher and new things to learn.

I am learning though. As I trudge along in my serving and working I learn each and every day. I have learned that it is not my job to make people happy. I have learned that by saying yes to sub jobs I do make people happy. I have learned that rules are guidelines and that there are no PTA police but there are best practices. I have learned more about 501 (c) (3) stuff and tax exempt status and what it means to be incorporated in the state of Texas that I ever wanted to know! The good news is that because I have paid attention and worked through the processes of the last year I can HELP someone else if they are faced with the challenge. I hope I never need to be that mentor but I would if I was asked.

My goals and aspirations for this school year are many.

1. I hope to support my boys in being successful in Middle and High School while allowing them to fail just enough to LEARN a lesson or two.
2. I hope to work enough to contribute to the bottom line for my family while taking enough time to enjoy being a SAHM and professional volunteer.
3. I hope to fulfill my responsibility as PTA President with professionalism and continue to develop the middle school PTA to 100%. Family Engagement, Advocacy and Parent Education.
4. I hope to manage my household in a way that is pleasing to my family. To keep clothes are the hangers, warm dinners on the table at night and toilet paper rolls full.

I'm sure I need to plan on more than that but it looks like a good start. Good luck to anyone and everyone during this season of fresh starts!