We started school yesterday. 1st grade is so different from kindergarten. The backpack fits a bit better this year, the tennis shoes now have shoe strings instead of velcro, and Mama didn't shed a tear as we walked away from the classroom Monday morning.
Summer was fun... but long and hot here in Texas. There are only so many things to do at home, inside with the air conditioner, on these 108 degree days with three kiddos. After a year of kindergarten, Big Brother was used to exciting things happening everyday... Not so much here... Mama was just not the entertainer that kinder teacher Mrs. L was. We heard "I'm bored" more times that once.
A couple times I decided that I would venture to the Antique Mall to check on the booth... with all three kids. What was I thinking? My first mistake was to do this without a stroller. Big Brother was to hold Sister's hand while we crossed the street to get to the door... that went fine. BUT then when we entered the store, she decided that she was big enough to walk "all by myself." (I hear that more times than once too).
We made it back to our corner just fine. One step into Booth 58 and I knew my quick trip to "check the booth" needed to be more of a complete overhaul and "refluffing trip." Stuff was everywhere! The beach/patriotic themes had all been mixed... and what looked like another vendor's large racoon trap had found it's way to the center of our floor -- No, not a racoon... just the trap. Dishes had been moved around and stacked on the floor. A large print we had gracefully "hidden" in back corner under a table was now "front and center" on display. Lots needed to be fixed.
About the time that I had mentally registered the mess around me, my sweet girl also registered that her favorite stool was missing. How dare someone actually
buy something and take it out of the booth! She proceeded into full melt down mode... right there on the floor next to the stacks of dishes. Big Brother wasn't much help as all he wanted to do was leave. I was stuck holding the baby in one hand and a large rusty varmit trap in other.... Now what?
I put the trap back down where I had found it, picked up my tramatized little princess, and issued the command to all within earshot... "We're leaving now!" big Brother remarked, "Mom, we just got here."... I answered, "Exactly."
And that is about how most of my summer has gone. So, you see now why the first day of school was a sweet day for me. Don't get me wrong, I adore my children and the times we get to spend together are blessings. But, now I know what my mom was talking about when she used to say, "Hooray, Hooray! School starts today!"
