Back To School Supplies

Every year I look forward to back to school shopping.  And not just because it means sending the offspring to school and having a full quiet hours to fill each day.  There's more to it than the anticipation of mommy time.  It's the new school supplies.

What is it about new school supplies? 

The spiral notebooks, and packs of new notebook filler paper seem to already hold the promise of anything and everything that might end up there.  Notes to be taken, and reports to be written.  Blank pages whisper with anticipation of the words to fill them in the coming months. 

Each pen and pencil eager to meet page.  To pour forth the wisdom , knowledge, and new skills to be learned this year.  New poems, short stories, and creative writing essays are there in your hand, ready to come to life. 

Colored pencils, markers, crayons, and glue sticks are there too.  Prepared to take part in the artistic expressions of students.   Standing ready for whatever educational project may be assigned. 

Oh... the new box of crayons.  I could go on for days about the simple joy of opening the box for the first time and seeing all those perfectly formed points peering back at you.  The distinctive waxy smell that only comes from this particular source and once smelled brings forth a flood of memories of new coloring books or the first day of kindergarten.  New crayons and I have a very special relationship. 

I think if we look deep down inside, many of us still wish someone would take us by the hand every August and lead us to the store to buy us a whole new supply of fresh school supplies.  Which is probably why I can never resist the urge to buy myself a new notebook or a fresh pack of pens when I purchase the items on the teacher's list of needed supplies for the year.

And yes, sometimes I even sneak in a fresh new box of crayons too. 

Not Off To A Good Beginning

I'm afraid this makes it official.  I'm beginning to lose it.  The ol' brain cells are not firing off as well as they used to.  I am not the sharpest tool in the shed.  The gerbil has fallen off the wheel.  What has brought me to this realization you ask?  Oh, it's a doozy.  Ready for this one? 

I forgot to send The Little Man to school yesterday.

Yes, you read that correctly.  It's not a typo.  Or a joke.  You are not delusional.  I simply did not send my son to school on a regularly scheduled school day.

Now, to my defense - it was the first day back after Christmas break.  The Man of the House and I both had the day off for the New Year holiday.  And for whatever reason I really was convinced that there was no school also.

Until I drove past the local elementary school yesterday afternoon and noticed all the cars in the parking lot.  And the sign out front which read "Jan 2 - Welcome back"  I said a couple of choice words as I realized exactly what I had done.  And sure enough, last night we got the automated "your child was absent from school today" phone call.  Yikes...

I'm sure The Little Man would argue with my feeling that this does not get the new year off to a glowing start.  He's likely on the verge of giddy to have been given an extra day of Christmas break.  (Which has grown into two extra days now thanks to school being canceled today due to light snow fall and sub-zero wind chills)

Now I find myself trying to fashion the least embarrassing excuse note possible to send in with him.  I'm not sure "Please excuse my son from school on Monday.  I did not realize classes were being held that day" is the best way to go.  Perhaps a more vague "My son was absent from school on Monday because we were still on vacation" is a better way to go?