The Katywompus Journal Observing Life's Little Quirks by Diane Moody |
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Entry #3: Back to School! Wait a minute. I have a question. What happened to summer?! Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't we just celebrate the 4th of July? There's still a watermelon in my refrigerator, the grass still needs mowing, the heat is stifling, and the neighbor's pool still looks mighty inviting. Can it really be time for all this back-to-school business? How is that possible? (Someone shoot me for starting a sentence this way), but "back when I was a kid," school started after Labor Day. Somehow it just felt right when fall was in the air. Then again, I do have some fond memories of that time of year associated with "back to school." I'm really dating myself now, but for me it conjures up images of plaid metal lunch boxes, wool jumpers, and shiny apples on a teacher's desk. (Do kids still give apples to their teachers?) Supposedly this custom originated back in the day when communities couldn't afford to pay their teachers a salary. Instead, they would send in food donations for no-doubt hungry teachers. I guess the apple just symbolized all that. But I wonder - are today's teachers a little suspicious of the fruit that appears on their desks? Especially if it comes from someone dressed like Marilyn Manson? Just curious. But who has time for apples?! There's the ALMIGHTY SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST to gather! We knew we were in trouble when little tots had to start sporting backpacks on wheels - frighteningly similar to the carry-on luggage we roll through the airport. A word of warning: if you have more than one child in school, you may need to invest in one of those flatbed carts like they have at Sam's for the initial Shopping Expedition. Once upon a time, it was just a ream of notebook paper and a couple of good ol' No. 2 pencils. But no! Now they need calculators and mechanical pencils and boxes of Kleenex and pump-jars of "antibacterial soap" (don't ask), and the newest edition of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary and a paperback copy of Roget's Thesaurus, not to mention the eighteen different kinds of notebooks and binders (with mandatory dividers, thank you). Have you ever noticed the variety of folders available? There's the pocket folder, the 3-prong folder, the 3-prong non-pocket folder . . . but of course the one your child wants has the shiny picture of SpongeBob or Justin Timberlake on the front (certainly worthy of the $2.50 price tag as opposed to the 5/$1 selection). And let's not forget the all-important aforementioned backpack. Mortgage the house, Dad. The JanSport folks are warming their hands even as we speak to collect your hard-earned cash and lots of it. But alas, the first day of school has already come and gone. Bright, colorful bulletin boards beckoned students back to class to soak up months of spelling, verb conjugation, classic literature, mathematical equations, scientific hypotheses, and perhaps un poco espaņol! Ever notice how teachers who love what they do can be spotted a mile away? They're the ones with eager smiles, inviting classrooms filled with fascinating displays, and lesson plans bursting with imaginative ideas to make learning FUN. Those are the classes that draw kids like magnets. Those are the teachers we love to see our kids assigned to. Ah, the memories. Ah, the sights and smells and sounds of school. The animated chatter in the hall between classes, the smell of all that good cafeteria food slopped onto those lovely school-issue plates, the overcompensating air conditioners frosting the glass on the windows, the engraved heart with "Beth loves Steve" scratched into the top of the desk, the defining aroma of the gym (what IS that smell?), and the blessed, blessed sound of the bell ringing at the end of the day! But let's be honest. The best part of back to school for parents is those delightfully therapeutic, blissfully life-rejuvenating, heavenly seven hours of peace and quiet at home! Yea school!! Click HERE to send Diane an email. She welcomes your comments and suggestions. She's Flying the Coop |
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