Here and There

Today was the first day of school! Hurray!

Of course, last night as the boys were playing one last game of soccer before bedtime I got that old familiar lump in my throat. It’s always so surprising when that thing shows up, because I am generally counting down the days to September starting August 8. That’s the time of summer when I feel like the grace is gone but the heat and humidity are here to stay. Tough combination.
So here we are, school days again. I love it (and so do the boys. They had a great first day.).

My goal for myself is to spend the next few weeks digging us out of summer and the inevitable toll that takes on my home. Bathrooms must be scrubbed, floors mopped, baseboards… well, the baseboards won’t improve for another 10-15 years. I’ve made peace with that. Almost.

I don’t usually do a good job of linking around the Internet Superhighway, but today I came across a few posts that were just spot on with my own feelings/emotions or experiences of late.

For instance, here is a cute little momma writing about her hair falling out post-partum. She writes about that and now I don’t have to — no need for me to tell you all about how I’m totally self-conscious about the handfuls of hair that I find on the bathroom floor. I’m actually a lot less embarrassed about those clumps than I am about the place on my head they used to be. This part of post-baby madness always freaks me out. And then the hair always grows back. Lord willing. Also, along with that post, we gave up TV recently and have had similar positive results.

Another place I visit has a beautiful article about homeschooling. What I love about this author is she is quick to point out that homeschooling isn’t perfect — but it’s what works best for her family, for this year. I don’t want to stir up the Us-vs-Them thing, but it’s so easy to start thinking all homeschoolers think their way is the best, that homeschooling is the answer and it will solve all our problems. Or vice-versa — that people sending their kids out the door to school think this is the absolute best. I sing the praises of our small private school — but they are the praises of what works for our family. This school is perfect for us. We all do what works best for us, to fit our personal goals and needs for educating our children.

Finally, I love this post over here. The best part are the photos of the dad and brother watching the sister open all her girly-girl stuff. Because that is totally my life — guys making those faces when anything remotely foo foo is on the scene. And it made my heart swell to think about Isabel and all the foo foo she will indeed be bringing! Bring on the faces, boys. Bring it!