“Career OVER. I’ve made my mark. I’m done. We were lining up for lunch. A student gives me a hug. I immediately start joking. Are you looking for an A?! Do you want a candy bar?! She looks up at me and says: You’re the reason I come to school.” (credit: @joypcoffee, Twitter)
Teachers, you are amazing. I am friends with many excellent teachers. And I can still call out the teachers by name who made a big difference in my own life and of course, I can also call out by name the teachers who made a huge difference in the lives of our four children. Teachers, thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
The kids in our area started school this week. It feels surreal. This will be the first time in over two decades that I won’t belong to a PTA, or have to go on a scavenger hunt to find an odd colored folder with a specific amount of pockets that doesn’t exist.
Our youngest child, our daughter, started college this summer. She is home for a couple of weeks before she heads back to her university for the fall session. She was horrified when were in a store the other day and the clerk asked her if she was doing back-to-school shopping. “I’m in college,” she declared, loud and proud, for everyone around to hear. At what age does the shift occur when we no longer want to be noticed for being older and more mature? I can’t even remember. That ship sailed a long, long time ago for me. I did feel slightly delighted (and a little embarrassed) when I was purchasing BOGO iced animal crackers and the clerk asked me if these were for school snacks. “My kids are all grown,” I admitted. “These are mature woman sneaky snacks for when sugar cravings hit.” She nodded in full understanding.
Are you passing on love or are you passing on pain? Heal your pain and pass on love.
Hi Kelly. It IS surreal when there are no more kids to send back to school. Full disclosure, I still have my son (who is getting his MBA) take a selfie on his first day of classes. And he does it WILLINGLY!
I always thought that when my kids got done with college they’d come home again and everything would be like it was. (Spoiler alert: that didn’t happen.) I have no idea why I thought that would be the case. Wishful thinking, I guess.
They’ll always be our babies, right?
Ha ha! I love the MBA first day of school pic, Gail. I honestly want my children to explore any and all adventures they want in life, wherever these adventures take them. They will always be our babies, but it is good for babies to have big, beautiful, strong wings to soar.