First Day of School

I won the worst mom in the world award.  Again.  I committed to going to Minnesota before I realized the trip fell over the first and second days of school.  Had I known that, I would've declined.  But noooo, despite the fact that I was counting down to the start of school, it totally slipped my mind.  I usually make the kids a "back-to-school" cookie for their first day.  I knew I'd be gone, so I stayed up late baking it the night before so they'd have their after-school treat.  Unfortunately, it did little to assuage the overwhelming guilt I felt.

As it was, I got the kids off for their first day of school and headed to the airport.  Later, I called them from Minneapolis to hear all about their first days of school.  I talked to five of the kids who told me about their days.  Those conversations were productive. 

"How was your first day?"

"Boring."

"Do you have friends in your classes?"

"Yeah."

"That's great!  Who did you sit with at lunch?"

"People."

"Who?"

"You don't know them."

"Do you think you'll like your teachers?"

"I dunno."

"Good talking to you.  Put your brother on the line."

Austin, the sixth and last kid got on the phone.  "How was your first day of HIGH SCHOOL?" I asked, giddy to hear all about his day.

"Oh, you want to talk to Savannah," my smart-mouthed son said.

"Very funny.  How was it?" I asked again.

"Huh?  Are you talking to me?" he asked in his usual smart-aleck fashion.

"Can you just tell me about your day?  Is that so hard?" I asked, getting frustrated.

"Oh, you want to talk to Savannah?  Here Savannah," Austin called to his sister as he tossed the phone across the room to her.  I heard Savannah yell, "Austin!  Just talk to Mom, you dork!" right before the line went dead.  Click.  I made a mental note to smack Austin upside the head when I got home from Minnesota.

The pizza-sized chocolate chip cookie

Here are my kids who just keeping older every year!

 

9th grade

 8th grade

 5th grade

 3rd grade

 kindergarten

missing her brothers and sisters and wishing she could go to school too