Week One

Well, we have nearly made it through the first week.

At first I was disgruntled that they do this, start with 3&1/2 days of school only to have a 4 day weekend for Memorial day and then, of course, another 4 day week next week.  It just feels like so much starting and stopping.  But considering how EXHAUSTING adjusting to our new schedule is, I guess I'm relieved by the stopping for a few days.  It  also helps the girls (kids in general) have a less intense start to the year (and maybe this year is shaping up for intensity... again... but not as bad... hopefully).

Our girls' school starts early (8) and we have a commute, so getting up and out is hard (we're not early risers by nature and that cannot be emphasized enough!).  I get up first and go to bed last (no news there) and am just worn out.  Even with the new found time in the day (which surprisingly... or not surprisingly) doesn't seem to actually add up to 8 hours.  I am working out again (yahoo) and am going hog wild.  I have needed this, and now that I do have the time I am not squandering it.  I'm hoping that this will finally be what I needed to get that part of my life back under control.  I'm alternating 90 min walk one day with 60 minute hills the next  during school days.  I should work my way through every movie on Netflix in short order.  With school being what it is, I want my workouts done M-F so I can spend time with the girls on the weekends.

Kid has had homework (70 minutes the first night) and there were tears and it was like last year all over again... and I just felt SO depressed.  I mean they are so tired when they get home, it is hard for her to just sit back down and do more work.  But last night was much better and she only had 30 minutes and that is more than doable.  Baby will start homework next week... not sure how that will be... plus Kid will need to start practicing her flute for band.  And memory work starts up next week.  I don't know.  There are things that are great about this school, but I will always be against this piling on of stuff to do at home.  There is pretty quickly no downtime between school and bed and it just seems unnecessary for elementary school.  We'll see.  I loaded the car with clip boards and homework supplies... maybe they can get some of it done while we're driving home?  Maybe she can practice the flute in the car?

Baby seems happy.  Her teacher is very highly respected and appreciated by parents in the school, so I'm hopeful.  Baby did come home and report her teacher could be "a bit yell-y", though.  Then she went on to describe the teacher yelling at a boy for opening his desk and slamming it down.  (hmm...)  I asked her if she was worried about getting yelled at and she said, "No.  I'm going to focus on being on my best not worst behavior." Good call.  So far, her lunches have been working out, but she is starving when she gets in the car.  I am perplexed about why the little kids have no snack time when I know 3rd grade does.  (perplexed=pissed, of course)  It is really hard to get her to eat a big breakfast in the morning because we are so rushed and she is NOT a fast eater even when she is 100% alert. I'm wishing we had a small RV to drive them to and from school in so she could eat on her way and they could do their homework & have snack on the way back.  It's genius!  I wish I could do that and not have it cost me $1,000,000 in gas.

Oh, our wedding anniversary is this weekend.  Traditional gift = silk.  What the?  I have NO good ideas (not going tie route or undergarments... so don't even suggest it).  I really like when we can find a good art piece for using the year's traditional element... those have been the best.  Of course, there is nothing like waiting until 3 days before to start looking!

Next Chapter

Yesterday both girls went off to their first day of school.  

Kid is in 5th grade this year (that sounds especially old) and is an Amazon.   

Baby is in 1st this year.

Their first day was a 1/2 day and so we were all eased in a bit.  Especially since I stayed for morning chapel and was really only gone for an hour and a half.  

(P.S. taking the PTL gig was the best decision I ever made... completely changed my social circumstance at the school)

But today is REAL.  They both just drove off for their first full day of school and I may have cried a bit.  And I may cry some more before the day is over.  

8 hours is a long time to contemplate the advancement of my life... even for me

This is the longest Baby has been away from me, except a few rare sleepovers, and even with that most of that time was at night.  

I have all of the usual mothering anxieties... 

mostly just hoping she'll be able to open all of her lunch containers (and actually eat the food).

Last night, after dinner, she handed me her dirty plate with a few scattered peas and 2 lumps of spinach left behind from their pesto pasta beginnings.  "So, you are all done with this?"  I asked.  "Yeah, just scrape it into my lunch for tomorrow.  I'm going to be there for a full day and I know I'm going to be hungry."  Baby replied.  The absurdity of her actually wanting that for lunch mixed with her earnestness about it, made me laugh and laugh.  

Yesterday, she came home with her classroom newsletter and we learned (to our horror) that she has memory and spelling this year.  "What?!!!  I can't even write in English!"  Baby cried out. 

She was in that moment teaching herself Chinese calligraphy from a picture book.  

(and yes, Mr F and I have decided to start saving up for an arts high school)