As a parent time is actually based on the school calendar. Did you know that? While the rest of the world celebrates, "New Years Day" on January 1st, the bigger deal to me is the first day of the year, the school year.
Once that first day comes around it's like the rest of the year is gone in a blink. The below is how my brain works (good luck following along). Sure there are additional moments sprinkled here and there, but the below are the BIG time markers for me:
- 1st day of School! Yay!! Take pics, get sad because I can't believe how big my babies are, and anxiously await the end of the day to ask them, "so... how'd it go"
- Open House: Look, I don't know why I look forward to this one night of the school year, but I love it. I give all the teachers my email address and get to, get a brief glimpse of where my babies spend their day. I like it. I get to have something (kind of) on the college campus too. I don't actually get to meet the professors but my daughter does an excellent job of showing me where her classes are located.
- Halloween. Yes, nothing else is really important to me before this. Sure many parents count football season but now that I don't have any kids in the band, the games have lost their luster.
- Thanksgiving. Give me turkey or give me death!
- Christmas. Ummmm FYI, Christmas starts the day after Thanksgiving and ends on January 6th. If you didn't know, now you do.
- Spring Break.
- End of the School year.
- Summer ... my least favorite 3 months of the year! I used to love them as a kid but now, not so much. It's 3 months of shenanigans, where because I'm an adult I can only actually be off for 1 freaking week. I'm envious of my kids and their time off.
All of this to explain my excitement and anticipation as another school year is about to begin. This year my babies will again be forging their own paths. The eldest is starting her 2nd year of college, then we have a senior in high school, a junior in high school and a gifted 3rd grader. Every one of them will be a year older and we'll have another one leaving the nest at the end of this school year. It's simply unreal how quickly time flies.
I pray for my 4, and all the other students about to embark on this journey. That this new school year be filled with lessons, laughter and unforgettable moments. That God lead and they be given the wisdom to follow. That they seek HIM with honest and hungry hearts. That God bring into their life friends and mentors that demonstrate the love of the FATHER in every area of their lives. That GOD protect them and watch over them and build a hedge of protection around them.
Another year is about to begin and I'm going to blink and once again it'll be over. I just don't want to get too distracted with looking ahead and missing what's right in front of me. After all, this season is unique and should be enjoyed and treated as such.
Happy first day of school 2018-2019 to all the students, parents and teachers out there, and to everyone else, Happy Traffic Jams!!