I’ve been a public school mommy for seven years now. When Rick & I first made our decision to go this route and educate our kids in the public schools, we knew we’d want to be involved in their education every step along the way. As far as we were concerned, the education of our kids started and stopped with us. But, overseeing their education when they’re away from you for six hours a day is easier said than done. It takes perspective, time, and energy.

Come with me over to The Better Mom where I’m taking part in a back-to-school series. You’ll find me sharing a little bit more about our perspective on schooling and some practical examples of ways to get directly involved in your child’s education…

 

I have a confession to make – though I have (sort of) watched football with friends and family for years, I (ahem) have no real idea what anyone but the QB and the kicker actually DO.

Oh, I know they’re all important and that they all have jobs that need done well. I know that some guys are defense and some guys are offense. I know that when a Buckeye takes the football into Michigan’s endzone, it’s time to hoot and holler and do “OH-IO.”

Yada, yada, yada. Give me a little credit here. I get the basic gist of the game. But, ask me the difference between the cornerbacks, the linebackers, the safety and the defensive tackle and you MIGHT just get a blank stare. I mean, hypothetically speaking; of course.

I believe, in fact, that this is the case for many other women. I suspect that most of us throw tailgate parties because we like to make snacks, not because we care THAT much about football. For the most part, I’m fine with this scenario. I mean, when I stand before the Lord at the end of time, I don’t think He’s going to quiz me on my understanding of the linebacker position. So, no biggie, right?

Right.

Unless, of course, your son is trying to make first string defense for his school’s 7^th grade football team. (Ha, come on ladies. Did you even know that all of the above mentioned positions are on defense? Honestly?)

So, the first order of business for me in anticipating a new school year: learn about football. Why? Because Caleb has discovered that I don’t really know what he’s talking about when he comes home rambling about how coach tried him out at linebacker. How did he make this discovery? Because I followed his rambling by asking if he was disappointed that coach was trying him out on offense.

“Ummm… mom, I said he had me at linebacker.” Silent contemplation for a sec. “You don’t really know what I’m talking about, do you?” BUSTED.  So stinkin’ busted.

So, he took me on a date to a local coffee shop and explained the whole thing to me. I like going to coffee shops with my boy. So I listened. Like really listened. Because what’s important to him needs to be important to me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He was hard-core about it too. Visual aids and the whole nine yeards. He’d explain for a few minutes and then, “OK, mom, so now tell me what I just said.” And in the end, he quized me on the whole thing. Can I brag and tell you I was doing pretty well? Until he threw in the “monster.” What the heck does the monster do? I’ve never even heard of the monster… until now. You might want to know that the monster hangs back with the linebackers. On the strong side. But, he’s not a linebacker. He’s a monster. Then again, you might NOT want to know these things. Unless, of course, you have a 7th grade son who wants to be a defensive tackle. (Not a monster, more’s the pity. I thought monster sounded pretty cool. Wouldn’t you think all the boys would WANT to be the monster? But, I digress…)

If your boy is trying out for defensive tackle… well, then you want to be ready. Because if you pass the quiz, you get this:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, THAT my mom-friends, makes learning football worth it. Dang, I’ll learn the playbook if I need to.

What is it about a new school year that always feels so… hopeful?!?!

The fresh school supplies? I mean, who doesn’t love a brand new notebook with its crisp, white pages just shouting for you to fill them with hopes and dreams and creative story? And the new pens. Is there anything more fabulous than a good pen? Or a perfectly sharpened box of new Crayolas? No matter how hard you try, you cannot sharpen them quite the same way as when they are a brand new box. And they look so lovely in their box. All lined up and waiting. (I think I have an issue. Yes, I’m a new supply addict.) This year we discovered rhinestone-studded scissors and Madison is in love.

Or maybe it’s the return to routine? The freedom of summer is refreshing and fun but it just feels better to get back to rhythm. Expectations and deadlines are good for us, I think. Summer doesn’t really lend itself to that as much.

Maybe the anticipation of new adventures? New books to read. History to be explored. Experiments to try. Works of art to create. Learning is a grand adventure – our kids know this even though they pretend to hate it.

Or perhaps it’s the fresh start? Since there is a person in my house who would like a do-over on some of his sixth grade decisions, I am particularly familiar with this one. {wink} All of us like a chance to put lessons learned into action. In many ways, a new school year is a blank slate.   

So, what is it about a new school year that always feels so… hopeful?!?!

For me, I think it’s a mixture of all of the above. The first day of school is more like January 1. It’s my time for new resolutions and hopes.

This summer has been a particularly busy one for us and August comes to me with a mixture of emotions.

I’ve gone supply shopping. Football practices have begun. The kids have clothes and backpacks and lunchboxes for a new school year. I’ve gone through the school calendar and added the dates to my Outlook, mapping out the year. I’ve been working on a new schedule to make my own days more productive. By the typical measures, we’re ready.

But are we? Really? What if the preparation of our hearts is more important than new Crayolas or even (gasp) rhinestone-studded scissors? Will you join me this week as I countdown to a new school year and take time to reflect.

How about you? How are you as the new school year approaches?