Back to School Randoms…because it’s Wednesday <3

Back to school randoms because it’s Wednesday. I asked our family for their memories, whatever came to mind and I asked permission to share. For the record, no one said “NO!”

So if they meant to, they didn’t and that’s on them:

Me – That same Kindergarten year, I remember vividly that we had stickers on our cubby and coat hook and mine was a Morning Glory. 

I had never heard of Morning Glories, but let me tell you. I have never forgotten how happy that little purple/blue sticker made me. I thought it was the most charming flower ever and the name just made me feel special to know that was the sticker of choice for my space in the classroom. 

I can actually still visualize it. And yes, I know the photo above is not a Morning Glory, but all I could find.

I also adored my teacher, Mrs. Yule. I don’t know if that is how she spelled it, to be honest, but that is how I heard it and pictured it. She was so kind and I believe my love of school started in her classroom. 

One day I came home from school and told my mom that our teacher had a cast on her arm. My mom told me that she had actually fallen in our classroom the day before, we were playing some sort of game and while we were cavorting around the room, unbeknownst to us, she had tripped and caught herself with her arm and done damage. 

We had not a clue that anything had happened as she finished our morning and sent us on our way. And how like a good teacher to suffer and carry on for her class. 

Russ – He remembers starting fourth grade and his mom was in the hospital for several days. He had to stay with his cousins. 

While that memory is short worded, I can only imagine what that must have been like for him. Russ’s mom was the sweetest lady on the planet and there was a calmness and peace about her that just made you feel like everything was going to be okay if you could just be close by her. 

I think of our own Emmett starting fourth grade last year and how hard that would have been if his mom was in the hospital. I think of our John remembering to us this past summer when Rachel went to Africa, my own absence from home for him at the same age as Emmet, again, when I went to Mexico with Rachel and the youth group from church. 

We moms sometimes/often underestimate the impact of our consistency of presence is to our children. I know it gripped my heart to hear that from John and I can hear Russ’s mom as I am sure she would have shaken her head sympathetically, looked sweetly on her youngest child and said “Oh, Russell” as only she could if she read the words above today <3

We miss her terribly. 

John – speaking of John.

His contribution to the back to school memories was this shirt which he says he wore the first day of seventh grade. He said he remembers feeling very cool. 

I am striving to remember what alternate universe I was dwelling in that particular year, because how on earth he came to possess this shirt let alone wear it on the first day, is beyond me. I must have grown tired and given up. 

I jest. 

While I don’t remember the shirt, I do remember dealing with all three in junior high and my battles were chosen on firmer ground than this. 

Rachel – Her memory was of her junior year. With a late August birthday and school starting so early, she was not able to get her driver’s license for a week. 

I remember that as well. I remember taking her and then watching her drive off. I remember that she had pined for that license for such a long time and been so unhappy that she had to wait and then I remember her looking wistfully back and saying she was going to miss riding everywhere with me. 

Me, too, girl. Me, too.

And to wrap it up, our Sarah did not submit an answer as she most likely didn’t even see the text thread. She has been setting up her classroom for her third year teaching middle school orchestra. 

So I will share a back to school memory on her behalf. 

At the start of first grade, after begging all through Kindergarten to be enrolled in Suzuki, the strings teacher at her grade school stopped me in the hall to ask on her behalf. 

I told the teacher that I thought a six year old, let alone a five year old, was too young to try and play an instrument seriously. But the teacher convinced me to at least give it a try. 

If you have ever heard her play, you are probably chuckling as I have over the years as she not only is accomplished in her own right, but has taught privately and through the schools for most of her adult life. 

She not only teaches children to play, but she encourages their writing of music and helps them perform with decorum and proper stage presence. 

Shows how much I know, right? 

Thankful for that music teacher who advocated for our girl.