My tall one finishes 3rd grade today.
She made her teacher a card that said:
We had a great year and a great relationship.
Which is true, and I just think it’s a beautiful thing that she knows that.
My small one finishes 1st grade today.
She’s already talking about the school-type work she plans to do over the summer.
Journaling. Reading. Higher math.
She’s kind of an overachiever, but still… I’ll believe it when I see it.
It is summer, after all.
I have very vivid memories of my own summer vacations as a kid.
Cousins.
Swimming.
Horseback riding.
Waterskiing.
Kick the can.
Rag tag.
Popsicles.
Rootbeer.
A thick smear of zinc oxide on my nose.
There were no bedtimes and no alarm clocks.
Time was virtually suspended for three months and then, suddenly, come the first of September, I was older.
Not a day older — a whole grade older.
A whole new set of rules and expectations, priveleges and opportunties.
A whole new me.
Which is where my girls are going to find themselves in a few months, in 2nd and 4th grades with the rest of the big kids.
It nearly brings me to my knees with nostalgia and the dizzying speed of it all.
Fortunately, though, as of 3 o’clock this afternoon we are in that nebulous land where clocks and calendars cease to matter and there’s nothing much to do but catch caterpillars, paint rocks and shake the sand out of our bathing suits.
We’ll deal with that growing up business all in good time…
Woo hoo! Yay for them. Happy summer! Here’s to inches of zinc oxide on one’s nose.
Jules
7-Imp
Happy summer to you and your girls, too, Jules…
Whee! Summer! What I like best: bare feet and ice cream sandwiches. And fireflies. But what’s rag tag?
A super fun water game — tag on the pier with a wet rag. You whip it at your victims and if it hits them, even in mid-dive, they’re it!
My second-grader to be is already planning schoolwork for the summer, also. Her teacher has given her a stack of different workbooks, which girl has grand plans for. The difference, as she explained to me is, “If I don’t like a worksheet, I don’t have to do it.” I guess that makes all the difference in the world.
hokgardner
Yeah. Nothing’s better than a little choice…
Happy summer to you guys…
I am there with the nostalgia. My tall one graduates grade school. She returned home off the bus yesterday with information about tampons and pads from the Family Life lesson her teacher gave. Can you say “What?”
My smallest begins 2nd grade next year and doesn’t wish to do anything but swim and go to a musical theater camp. Watch out Rocky Mount! A diva may be born!!
My son (the thorn between two roses) is working toward his future career both in the baseball and football. He’s too cool for school (don’t we know it)!
They grow up so fast…
Amy Hanek
http://www.houseonthegladehill.blogspot.com