Back to school? Already?
Yes, it’s getting very close to that time with schools now opening a week or two into August. So as quickly as it seemed school was over for the summer, we will be back to the morning and afternoon routine for moms, dads and grandparents who have a part in getting kids to and from school.
In our paper today is our annual Back-to-School special section which has great interest for parents because we publish the calendars for the school year, including the private schools.
In the past week or two as I was out selling ads for the special sections there was a particular day I visited a school uniform business. Need I say it was crazy in there.
The owners had four people working the front counter, and as long as I was there the customers never stopped coming in the door. As I sat and waited for a chance to get my sales material to the owners I watched mostly moms asking for shirts or pants, taking the kids into the fitting rooms, then asking for something different—it went on and on.
I made a note about how much work is done, mostly by the moms, to get kids ready for school and then help them during the school year.
This was just one little part of getting ready, then the school year will begin and every day there is the routine of getting kids up, making breakfast, making sure they get dressed, and then getting them out the door and to school on time. Whether you drive your kids to school every day, or they take a bus, it’s still a tight schedule every morning to get it done.
As I have mentioned before, my wife homeschooled all four of our children from start to finish. She sure didn’t plan it that way, but it ended up being something like 25 years of teaching to get our last child finished.
I remember one of my grandkids asking recently, “Papa, did your kids ever get to stay home from school without being sick?”
I reminded them that “Grammy” had homeschooled the kids, but I confided to them that “yes” Grammy did let the kids have a day off every once in awhile.
My wife was incredibly disciplined for the most part with school. She was always up and getting the kids out of bed about 8 a.m., and insisted on “being seated at the homeschool table at 8:30.”
But, yes, there were those days when one of the kids started working mom.
“Mom, can we not have school today, PLEASE!”
Sometimes they won but most times they didn’t, but it was that flexibility in teaching kids from home that my wife and the kids always loved.
As I watch two of my daughters handle three children each I see how busy it all gets—and my grandkids are not yet really involved in the extra-curricular activities that are offered in so many different ways. Whether little league, dance teams, karate classes, theater—there is a lot to offer and that only takes more time for moms and dads to help with.
It makes me appreciate every mom and dad who really puts out the effort to do it right and spend the valuable time with their children as they grow.
Trust me, you will blink and the kids will be in high school and you will blink and they will be walking out the door for college. And yes, two of my four children did earn college degrees.
Even as I saw the hectic lifestyle of a mom getting her kids uniforms for the coming year, I also saw kids who just wanted to hug their mom as they waited. Don’t let the crazy times with all the school preparation and activities get in the way of cherishing every day with your kids. Before you know it that chapter of your life will be over, so make sure and enjoy the ride while you are taking it.
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I live near St. Luke Catholic Church and do my own exercising by playing basketball across the street at their outside goal, or by walking the streets of Cross Gates subdivision.
On Tuesday nights I always see a large group of people of all ages walking or running on the same streets. I finally found out it is a free, Tuesday night exercise and fun run night hosted by Run-N-Tri in Slidell, located at 2132 Gause Blvd. E.
Ed Sylvester is the manager there and Adele Lassus is one of the store directors over the Tuesday Fun Run class they offer. She told me there are 1, 2, 3, and 4 mile courses available and you only need to show up and sign a waiver before running. It starts at 6 p.m. from the store each week so if you are looking for a few friends, and a little coaching from Adele, to get in some exercise, this is a great way to do it.
For more information, call them at 985-326-8400.
Kevin Chiri can be reached by e-mail at kevinchiri@gmail.com.