Today was the first day back to school for my sophomore.  Oddly, this year it really hit me that the baby is growing up - almost too quickly!  One would think the freshman year would do it, but because my oldest daughter started college last year (I had two freshmen), her moving out had more of an emotional impact than the baby’s first year of high school.

The second year of high school, though.  She has a new principal this year, although it’s actually the one she had in middle school.  He’s a strict overseer and that will be good given the way her school has been out-of-control these last few years.  There is one staircase with a bad nickname because at the bottom is the hiding place where high school “couples” go.  He’s already put a stop to that.

The school is also much cleaner - he brought over his head custodian who brought in his people.  All trusted to work hard and do what has to be done.  They’ve already painted the school hallways.  Now they’re working on the rodent problem.

When is your first day of school?  How much did you spend on new clothes?  School supplies?  For my two girls, I spent about $400 on clothes and $100 on school supplies.

Flickr Creative Commons photo by Kevin Dooley.

When Annie was in kindergarten, the bus brought her right to our driveway since she only went a half day.  One day I came home from work to learn that the bus zoomed right by the house without stopping, ultimately giving Annie’s Grandma, a heart attack.  Luckily the bus just circled the block and brought her right to our driveway like it was supposed to.

The same thing happened to Les the other day.  When the bus came up the street, his Katie wasn’t on it,

Just about that time Melissa said she saw the bus coming back up the street. Katie was on it. The bus driver said he had finished his route and was heading back when he saw Katie’s head pop up in his rearview mirror.

Melissa asked Katie, “Why didn’t you get off the bus on our street?” Her answer? Her friend Abby was reading her a story and she wanted to find out how it ended. “You still should have gotten off the bus!” “But I wanted to see where the bus went.”

I understand your heart clutched in your chest, Les.  I really do!

Photo by katerha via flickr creative commons.

I just returned from training at the Sommet Center (actually it is now officially the Bridgestone Arena) to work concessions as a fundraiser for a friend’s daughter.  What I initially dreaded turned out to be a very informative evening.  75 to 80 percent of the workers in the concession stands there are “volunteers”, working for money that goes directly to their organization.  What a great way to give back to the community.  Some groups have earned over $50,000 in a year’s time.  Yes, it takes a commitment of time and effort (and Advil for the leg and foot cramps from being on your feet for hours), but considering today’s economic struggles, it’s a welcome relief to many people.  I spoke with several parents this evening who said that without this extra “income”, they would be forced to withdraw their children from their activities.  Many thanks to the people who make all this possible.  I guess sometimes it does take a village!

I write this as I sit on my daughter’s bed…”monitoring” her homework progress.  In other words, it takes me sitting by her side, constantly watching, to assure the work gets done.  This has only recently become a problem.  Up until this semester my baby was a workaholic, focused on nothing but getting the job done.  I couldn’t get her in the door fast enough.  But the hormones have shifted, and I believe I’m now faced with the dreaded task of keeping HER on task! 

I find myself thinking back, trying to remember all of the “expert advise” I’ve read regarding the subject.  Hmmm…looks like we’ve got some work to do! 

• Set up a separate study area (this probably means we shouldn’t be sitting here on the bed with the tv muted!)
• TV, music, and phones out of reach!!!
• Good lighting
• Plenty of supplies on hand (this could help with the never ending desire to hop up and hunt down a new pencil, eraser, piece of paper, folder, etc.)

Establishing and sticking to the ground rules laid out above is key in providing a positive work environment.  Doing this early in your child’s school experience will provide early steady work habits.  Remember to evaluate your child’s work habits and work space on a regular basis, remembering that needs change frequently.  Then, take the time to enjoy learning experiences with your child.  It’s amazing what you can learn from them!

Photo by apdk via Flickr Creative Commons.

I sent my daughter back to school yesterday after almost two weeks of the virus from hell.  We were fortunate that her illness arrived along with the big snow Tennesseans received a couple of weeks ago so she actually only ended up missing four official school days.  She’s still not completely herself, but after one antibiotic, one steroid pack, one inhaler, one bottle of codeine cough syrup, and AT LEAST one bottle of children’s ibuprofen, she’s well enough to return to school.

I have been so fortunate to be at home with my children during their early years, and it has not been much of a struggle to keep her at home during illnesses. For the last three years, I have been searching out full-time employment, and my chief concern has been that of childcare (for both my two-year-old son, and my school aged daughter when she is sick or out for breaks).  Still, I remain very dedicated to obeying the rules laid out for keeping my children home if they are sick. I believe for everyone’s sake that ALL parents should do the same.

Although attendance policies vary slightly from one school system to another or one daycare to another, there are a few basic rules that usually remain the same.  A child should be kept at home if he/she is experiencing one or more of the following symptoms:

- Vomiting

- Diarrhea

- Contagious rash

- Fever – Most all systems require a child to be FEVER FREE for 24 hours before returning to school/daycare.

This is our first year at the school my daughter attends. I admit that I have not seen first-hand sick children at school. However at the school she previously attended, I listened to a father describe his son’s night spent on the bathroom floor by the toilet (the school had called him to pick up his son due to vomiting and high fever).   I witnessed the mom in the car in front of me in the drop off line administer fever reducer to her child as the child got out of the car.  And I came in contact with several parents who “masked” their children’s fevers and sent them to school, realizing that the timing of the fever meds would allow for a full day of instruction without the visible fever. That is NOT fever free!!!

So, here’s what’s happening…I’m keeping my child home for the average two to three day period. I send her back, where she’s exposed to the children who should have been kept home, but were not. Two weeks later, my child is home sick again.  Now my theory…

If we suck it up, and keep our children home when they need to be home (until they have been fever free for 24 hours), then send them back, eventually, shouldn’t we see children healthier as a whole??? And doesn’t that benefit all of us?

Article by Mandi A.

It was with a sense of dread that I headed home yesterday … the day the first report card came home from Erin’s first six weeks of high school.  She’d been telling me to expect the worst from her Algebra class, so I braced myself when I walked in the garage door.

I said, “Report card?”

There was no hesitation at all when she handed it over - a good sign for sure.  I won’t disclose her grades here, but suffice to say that she is not grounded for the next two (or six weeks).  In fact, the grades were good enough that she gets to go to the football game Friday night with friends!  Of course, that’s a whole ‘nother worry.

Photo from LOLcats… only the best website of 2009!