Tis the Night Before The First Day of School

The lunches are packed, the new supplies are packed into the backpacks, the clothes are pressed and hanging on the bedroom doors but I sit here remembering the first day of school 13 years ago for Brandy and 9 years ago for Kyle. I was very fortunate that both of the kids started school in the building that I was the school nurse. Even though there were times that I wondered if having them in the same building as myself was a good thing but never on the first day of school. Brandy will be a Senior at Spring High School Class of 2011. I remember her first day of kindergarten like it was yesterday. She wore a denim dress with her hair down (it was always short in those early years). She sat in the student chairs in front of my desk like a perfect lady with her backpack in her lap. When it was time I walked her to class to see Ms. Kleinhiezen. I appreciate Ms. Kleinheizen for being so kind and a wonderful example of what learning can be to a young student. Even though she is now Mrs. Siekas and a mother of a young son and daughter herself, Brandy still talks of her adventures in her classroom to this day.

Kyle starts his eighth grade year at Roberson Middle School for the 2010-2011. He will be a member of the Spring High School Class 2015.
Kyle on the other hand had both Mom and Brandy to walk to his Pre-K class. Brandy talked to him for weeks before about how he had to act to be able to be a Beneke Bear. I handed him off to Mrs. Cindy Burns and then in the afternoon he went to Mrs. Lopez. And no one has to ask Kyle the second time how he feels about Mrs. Lopez. The one thing that I remember about Kyle the most during those early years is he always had to give me a kiss just before he headed to class. And that continued until he was in second grade. Now I'm lucky to get a hug in public.

As always I will take the annual pictures before they head out the door but in my heart I will know that this is the last time I will have both of my children leaving for the first day of school from my driveway. And that is even with one driving herself on the road to becoming a young lady and finding her own road to a lifetime of adventures, I'm allowing myself to have a "mommy moment".

Towels

I never thought towels would become such a part of my life. But as I prepare for my daughter to begin her Senior year in high school, I find myself thinking towels will be something that I miss when my children leave home. Both of the kids have swam on summer league, year round team, taken swimming lessons, and of course taken baths. I continue to wash at least a load of towels a day if not two or three. If a had a dollar for every towel I have folded over the years I would be wealthy woman. Coach David always said I was the best swim mom as I sat in the stands reading my magazines or working on school stuff and always had the dry towel ready for the kid's shriving body to dry off on. I will miss the towels that have become such an important part of my kid's childhood.