And, I, their mother will take their picture every single first day of school. Even on their first day of 8th grade like their brother started today. Even when they think I, their mother, is weird for taking pictures and isn’t that cool.
As much as Hunter didn’t want me to take him to school today, he obliged, turning to his sisters in the back seat to say, “When you start school, Mom will tell you to be kind, respectful, honest, trustworthy, to be a leader and to not talk too much.” Ahh, he has listened all these years of first days of school, ever since his first day of kindergarten when I was a nervous mom wearing a purple business suit, pulling up to school in my trusty Honda, gripping his little hand as he wore his “Hunter” monogrammed blue backpack. As I walked him into his new private Christian school, I prayed that no one would judge him because of his unwed working single mom or the fact we lived in an apartment, unlike every other in tact, home owning family walking into that school. All these years later and through the long journey we’ve traveled since the first day of kindergarten to become the family of five we are today, I couldn’t be more proud of our 8th grade son. He is kind, honest and trustworthy. He is learning to be respectful. He does his best to be a leader. He talks too much. He is always a work in progress. Yet all the advice and instruction I had this morning as we were trying to get out the door was, “Everybody put on shoes and be happy.”
What are your memories or traditions of “back to school”?
Not once did I judge Hunter or you for being an unwed mother living in an appartment when you walked into Park Christian kindergarten. Instead I felt comfortable with you (perhaps because of our family farming background, similar values and faith)…I thank God everyday for our special friendship that only He could have orchestrated. 🙂
Great story, brought back many memories. My school was in a small town and my class had 96 graduates. Everybody knew each other. All these years later, they still feel like my brothers and sisters.
Aww, we don’t start until Labor Day (MN law), but I cannot wait to take my “first day of school” pictures. LOVE the advice you gave this morning! It sounds like our house 😉
Also, thank you for linking up to my Family Friday Linky!
What happened to that little boy I use to know? Hunter has turned into a handsome young man. I can’t believe school has already started. Tell Hunter happy early birthday.
Wonderful post. I just love reading about Hunter. I can tell he is a wonderful kid and you are a fabulous mother for raising him to be so.
I graduated in a class of 130 and at my last class reunion I couldn’t tell you the names of half the people there. But my kids are in a class of 20. Very small and very rural school and I am so happy they have the opportunity to know each and every one in their school building.
My graduating class was 107. I was in the first class to go all the way through a new Jr/Sr Highschool following a consolidation of three smaller schools. There are disadvantages of small schools, but I’m not convinced they out weigh the plusses. Blessings for a wonderful school year!
this is so sweet. what a great son you have there. 🙂 with a pretty cool mom too…
I grew up in a school that was K-12. I graduated with a class of 32 other students. I loved it and wish my son could have the same experience, but alas, we’re in the wrong district. There is an elementary, middle school, and high school this year, but next year will be different. It will just be K-6 in one school (what is now the middle school) and then 7-12 in the high school. I’m looking forward to those changes as it’s much closer to what I’m used to. He’s got a class of about 70, more than double what I graduated with, but luckily, they have the class split into 3 sections so they get more one on one attention that I initially expected. Good luck to Hunter, who looks so much older than 8th grade.
Ahhhh, what a wonderful post. Sniff, sniff, sniff. I can’t believe Noah is 6 today and reading your post reminds me that in the blink of an eye he will be an 8th grader, senior, college kid, it goes too fast!! If my boys turn out like Hunter I will be happy, he is a great kid. Tell him happy birthday tomorrow for us!