Coming back from the Southwest with 10 days until the first day of school, we had to dive-bomb the last remaining school supplies left in the stores, rush order missed curriculum items, and try to get as clean and organized as possible. A few days into the school year, breathing something close to a sigh of relief over actually getting up and running, I found myself in a dance store upon an afternoon in the pouring rain. (I'm not going to re-work that run-on. Just hang with me!)
Three girls in ballet is a bit of a commitment for sure. The tights alone!! But they love it. And I am refusing to buy Galadriel bigger pointe shoes until her teacher confirms that she REALLY DID grow out of them (I bought them in May!!!)
As for the first day of school? I have thought of Elizabeth Foss' words of the subject every single year since she wrote her article on that here. If I went to write my own thoughts on the first day of school, I'd just be doing a worse job of what she said there.
In a nutshell, after a decade and a half of homeschooling, I have learned that the first day doesn't really count as a school day. It's sort of pretend. We go through the motions of a real school day and just see what is missing, what is broken, and how many kids are crying (unless it's me in tears) by 10am.
I just make a list of missing subjects, order them right away, and carry on as calmly as possible. If I hadn't been in the Southwest this summer, the theory is that I would have had more time to be ready, but judging by past years, I bet it wouldn't have really made that much of a difference!
I just cheerfully encourage my children in as saccharine a voice as I can feign, "it's ok, yep, this is what I need to know! No Spelling book? Ok! No lesson plans? Check! I'll order it right now! Remember, we're just getting started! This is how it's supposed to be!"
And then I make a really great lunch.
Can you see something in Bilbo's desk?
Look close! It's Wilma.
Like most 4-year-old girls I have known, Eowyn wanted a white cat. She reeeeeallly wanted one. As in, tears, all day, and lots and lots of persistent days of wanting.
Our last little kitten was given to us by my Mother-in-law's farm hand Pablo, who couldn't keep the little guy on the farm. "Cooper" was a darling little stray, but he was super scrappy, scratchy, and soon...aggressive. I just didn't feel comfortable with him in the home with my then one-year-old baby. We keep in touch with his new owners, and he is full grown, fat and sassy!
We certainly didn't want to get another cat only to give him or her away, so we took a while to make the decision.
We are committed to this kitten and have every intention of keeping her forever. Luckily, she is fitting in well. Cats are so nice and....quiet!:)
To say Eowyn was pleased would be an understatement.
Wilma is a Himalayan. We are all getting used to seeing our little puff ball sneaking around the corners of our home, or jumping out at a toy to play. She's fun to have in the school room.
I put this art supply cart together for a handy storage place this year. What happened on the first day of school? Sam turned it into a scooter!
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| Eowyn, 4-K |
Up in my high schooler's study, Arwen enjoyed company on the first day of school when Wilma took a nap on her desk!
Love that you got a first day of school pic! I totally skipped it this year. Another cat? Way to go with the pets! We won 4 goldfish at the church festival (I wanted to give them back!) and two of them died already. I don't know how you do it. But she's a cute little puffball!
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