Back to school is like a parent’s New Year’s. The calendar rolls into a new school year, new goals are set, there is hope in the air for a fresh year. My mind visualizes the academic year and on the first day of school, and like on the first day of a new year, I tend to reflect back.
As I’m sure so many people do, we have the tradition of taking pictures on the first day of school. The images mark their moves through the grades and even offer proof of unrecognized growth from September to June. I love family record-keeping projects like photo books to highlight the year’s events and kids art photo books.
The first day of school pictures are filled with emotions as I remembering their first day of school jitters (and my own) and how quickly they evaporate. The excitement of wearing a new shirt, meeting their teacher(s) and the anticipation of seeing friends all jump out of those pictures. I laugh at how their over-loaded back packs, filled high with supplies, causes them to tip and lean.
Their first day nervous-excited grins peer out at us, year after year. The pictures mark my babies growing up. Right. Before. My. Eyes. How is it that I just dropped off Ali for her very first day of preschool? I can vividly remember each of my bright-eyed Kindergarteners eagerly jumping on the school bus and waving good-bye through the window. Another proud step toward independence as my heart squeezed and I was left waving at the departing bus, swatting at a tear.
My three kiddos off to school this morning.
Somewhere along the way, we began the tradition of a special dinner on the first night of school and a new book wrapped up at each kid’s place at the family dinner table.
How do you mark the first day of a new school year?
Share your thoughts - I love to hear from you!