Back to School Nostalgia

[5ft Diva]

I was at the store today and couldn't help but feel that back to school nostalgic feeling. Pencils, papers, erasers, notebooks, folders.... They're all reminders that Fall is just around the corner and with that come the falling leaves, the crisp evenings, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and Halloween. I've been drawn to orange this summer and I'm looking forward to the autumn colors come this fall. I'm not ready for summer to be over but I really do love that end of September to beginning of November feeling. It takes me back to good memories.

[Dia Minha]

I know exactly what you are talking about. I too am not ready for summer to be over. I feel like ours was cut in half. You know before Levi and after and we missed out on a lot these couple of weeks, because of it.

However, I love it when it starts to cool off in the evening. It is so refreshing when the world going to sleep creates a clean and earthly smell in the air. The kids get excited for what a new school year holds for them and I get excited for what having three gone for at least some part of the day holds for me.

Sometimes I have a hard time enjoying fall, because of what I know is just around the corner. With my new philosphy of living in the moment, I am going to find something to enjoy right here and now, no matter what the season.

Dia

[5ft Diva]

I'm right there w/ ya, Dia! I know exactly what you're talking about. I'm working on the same thing. Good luck to us both!

[smed]

I have been, well how should I put this trying to advoid this because I just saw the title and thought oh! my! back to school! I'm so not ready for this. I've had so much fun with my kids this summer. But Yes! I agree with you all I love the cool air and the change in the leaves. Oh 5D, when you talked about the pumpkin patches, it has gotten me all excitted about the fall. Thanks so much for posting this. Sorry I havent' respond sooner, But I'm dreading for my kids to go back. Say good bye to "sleeping in" and say HELLO TO: KIDS GET UP WERE RUNNING LATE! GO! GO! GO!

[5ft Diva]

I hear you there!

[bookworm]

Smed, I know what you mean about rushing out the door- last year I made a conscious effort to stop using the word HURRY so much. I hate making my kids feel rushed. I found that deep breaths help! And getting up before my kids. And getting them up a little earlier. My kids were early every day last year, because my oldest DS is just like me- tightly wound and can't stand to be late. He's going to Clark Johnson this year, though, so the younger boys will have to get themselves off on time. And we are going to do home lunch for the first time ever this year (except on pizza day ) so I've got to think ahead about the time required to pack 3 lunches, too.

I am looking forward to fall, though. I love fall. I love the crisp cool air, wearing sweaters, that smoky smell in the air, Halloween, new school shoes, and the structured days. I think next week I'm going to start a new schedule and do some math reviews with the boys each day. They are starting piano lessons up again soon, so they need to get more serious about practicing again, too. Ah, summer gets shorter every year...

[5ft Diva]

I agree, BW. The summers are becoming too short. Where did it go????? I want to take my kids camping again this summer before school starts and I realized that I only have about three more weeks to do that. I guess I better get going, eh?

Hey, I'm sure that you've already got a plan but I just thought I'd tell you what works for us as far as school lunches go, BW. My kids each make their own lunch. I used to let them choose if they wanted to make it the night before or the morning of and now I just have made it a part of their before bedtime routine. They mope and groan sometimes but our mornings go much smoother this way.

[bookworm]

That is good advice, and something I've been considering. There's this "Leave it to Beaver" mom inside me who thinks I need to do this for my kids. I'm sure she'll quiet down soon, though, and they can be responsible for it. She usually does

[Dia Minha]

When does school start?

Dia

[5ft Diva]

8/22!!!!

[5ft Diva]

Yeah, BW, the "Leave it to Beaver" mentality got left behind a long time ago but she still creeps in every now and then and I have to send her packing again. Good luck w/ that one! Here's something that I found w/ my kids packing their own lunches. They trade when they get to school, so they'll pack something they know someone else will want. I think it's hilarious.

[Dia Minha]

That is what RAR just said, and I didn't believe her. Man that is really soon. That means we will only have one full week after getting back from vacation. However, that means checking my kids out the first Thursday of the month to go to the zoo won't by as hard, because they will already be in the swing of things.

Dia

[Dia Minha]

My kids pack their own lunch too. I got tired of them complaining they didn't like what I put in there. Now I have had to learn to be ok with them taking things like raw Ramen noodles or nuts and cheese, but hey I'm fine with it as long as they eat it. And they know to always pack a diary, a protein, a bread and a fruit or veggie, so it works for me.

Dia

[5ft Diva]

I totally know what you mean about the raw ramen. Maybe our son got the idea from yours! That is hilarious. I'll have to do a better job of making sure my kids know to pack the main food groups. A couple of weeks ago we started something new and it's worked really well so I hope it continues into the school year. My kids have been making their own lunches for a couple of years now so we just cleared a shelf in the pantry and have deemed it the "Lunch" shelf. Anything on it is what they can make for lunch. It seems to be working really well. They used to come to me and ask me all the time, can we have this, can we have that? Now they just know and I don't worry about it.

[Dia Minha]

Diva, I love the idea of having a lunch shelf. My oldest loves to cook. I take advantage of that by keeping things on hand that she and her brother can fix for all the children. However, it is all mixed up with the stuff that I have plans for, for dinner or whatever, and they are always asking what they can fix.
Now to find a shelf. I don't have a pantry. Oh, but we are about done with baby food. I could use that one. Thanks for the idea.

Dia

[bookworm]

What a fantastic idea! I can't wait to put that into practice. Now what can I remove from the pantry...

I'll have to remind them about the food groups, too, I think. Shouldn't be too bad, though. Do your kids have thermoses for milk, or do they buy milk, or do they just drink water? I don't do sugar drinks or juice boxes much, especially for a daily think like lunch..

[bookworm]

hee hee typo... I'm not all here... I mean daily THINGS like lunch.

[Dia Minha]

Mine just get a milk. My son doesn't usually eat a packed lunch. Maybe a couple times a week. And then my daughter usually only takes hot lunch a couple times a week. So they both have running accounts (as in I just send a check once a month whether they need it or not) and it's just easier.

Dia

[Dia Minha]

OH and if they take a quarter they could always go ahead and get a juice, even if you told them to get a milk. However, they can't get one on their lunch acount. They have to have a quarter to buy the juice.

Dia

[bookworm]

Yeah, I was thinking I would just put some money on all 3 accounts each month so they have the option to eat there sometimes.