School days

This year was my first experience getting a child off to school. I have been on the other side a lot- worked schedule pick up, prepped my classroom, smelled that "first day of school clean" (before it starts smelling like stinky boys after gym class!). But this was my first year to buy school supplies, school clothes, stand in lines for schedule pick-up, etc. I was in awe of the amount of money it takes to go to free, public school. School supplies, backpack, yearbook, lunch $ (and C gets free lunch... but she needs snack bar money, too, right?), planner, gym clothes, orchestra music... and the list goes on! We tried to make "back to school" a big deal- dinner out, waffles for breakfast, pictures- the whole nine yards. I want her to see the value of education and to keep it fun! I think C had a good first week of school. Jimmy and I are both talkers and she isn't as much. I want to hear every detail of the day, but try not to pepper her with too many questions :).

The boys are not doing any kind of preschool. I agonized over this decision, but since I'm continuing to teach Tu/Th afternoons, they will have time with our fabulous nanny/sitter. I don't want to send them anywhere on M/W since those are the days we'll have to be home together and on Fridays we are doing a little homeschool cohort group. It's a bit of an experiment with a bunch of first time homeschooling moms. Most of the moms have kindergarteners or kids like Sammy, who just missed the kindergarten cutoff. So, I'm not saying we are homeschooling forever, but we're going to dabble in it this year and I'm excited about it.

However, I'm also super happy to have the opportunity to continue teaching part time. I went up to school to do some paperwork and had pangs of regret about giving up my full time position. I know it is the right thing, but wow, I really do love a lot of things about that place.

After court we have heard nothing else about the case. The lack of communication is one of the most frustrating parts of the foster care system- lack of communication with the foster parents and between all of the other entities. As I said before, we take it one day at a time!