Friday afternoon we anxiously awaited the arrival of the mail! Thomas went to check it and came running back with a smile on his face. The postcard from his new teacher had arrived. As the afternoon went on, and later into the night, mamas were chatting to see what old friends and new friends would be in our kids’ classes. So far he has his best buddy from the cul-de-sac and a few friends from last year’s kindergarten class in his class. From what I’ve heard, we have a really nice teacher.
Friday night we went down to the clubhouse in the neighborhood for the back-to-school party. I mentioned to the boys a week or so ago that we would soon be having the back-to-school party. They both chimed in with the same response, “Already?” My thoughts exactly! How has it been 11 weeks since we started off the summer with the end of school party at the clubhouse?
The boys had a fun time swimming and bouncing on the inflatables and running around with friends. I’m so thankful that our neighborhood has established this tradition. It really helps foster community within the neighborhood. All through the night there was talk of the new school year, new teachers, getting back into early morning routines, and already mourning the end of summer a little on my part.
Saturday we grocery shopped in the morning and then made a stop to pick up some fresh shrimp.
In the afternoon we played around at home and had a relaxing time. I asked Thomas to pick something he’d like to make for dinner for sort of a back-to-school dinner that night. Thomas and Arthur agreed on shrimp tacos. Well, just the shrimp for Arthur. And we got around to making the homemade ice cream we intended to do last weekend.
Sunday morning was church followed by the rare occasion to eat lunch out afterwards. I generally like to have some leftovers for the weekend to have to put together for lunch when we get home. It sometimes feels like we’re in a crunch to get everyone fed and ready for naps on Sunday afternoons. All the shrimp was gone and Tom and I both were already hungry as we were leaving church, so we went for it.
Later in the afternoon I took Thomas to the school. They had a time set aside for people to stop by and put notes or encouragement and prayer on the teachers’ classroom doors. We left a note for his sweet teacher from last year, his new teacher, and a few teacher friends. I wasn’t sure if we would end up going, but I’m so glad I took him. It was good for him to walk back in and explore and talk about where everything was again. He’s normally really good about new situations, but the past few nights he’s come back out of his room several times asking one of us to lay with him and talk.
Wiping away tears in his eyes last night he says, “but I just want to stay here with y’all.” And with everything I have in me, I had to fight back tears of my own because I want to say back to him, “I want you to too.” These boys and I have spent every day of this summer together. It’s been a joy. It’s a time we won’t get back and they’re at such fun ages. I’m so thankful for it. Sure, there have been squabbles, and times when I’ve lost patience, but as a whole, we’ve learned and loved each other so much.
So knowing this summer can’t go on forever, we are praying for grace for all of us to embrace the transition of the week ahead. I know two little brothers that are going to miss their big brother a whole lot!
