10 Things I've Learned This School Year

[Okay, this picture was from the first day of school last year. But still. ;)]

We are getting ready to wrap up 4 weeks since our kids went back to school, and I am thrilled to report that it seems to be a success so far! This year, Daniel is in 2nd grade at a new elementary school, and Annika is in 6th grade at her old elementary school (she was granted a transfer request to finish up her last year there). As with any new seasons in life, though, there are many things that I have learned along the way. Such as . . .

10. Juggling two schools really isn't too difficult. This has really surprised me. Perhaps this is because they are only a mile or so apart, but it really hasn't been bad at all. Even when events have been scheduled at the same time, like back-to-school night, it's been totally manageable.

9. . . . Because we have awesome friends. Annika's friend Rachael lets her come over every morning so that the girls can walk to school together, and she goes home after school with her friend Sage every afternoon. Annika likes this solution 1000% better than the after-school program, which I think she was starting to age out of. Thank you so very much to our awesome friends for giving her an incredible school year!!

8. Daniel loves his new school. I am so, so happy about this. He loves his teacher, his reading is blossoming, and he's already found a group of boys to talk about Minecraft with over recess. What could be better?

7. . . . But he still wants to be picked up at 4:30. This is the time in his after-school program where they switch from "recess" to "silent reading." I've been trying to make it by this Daniel-driven deadline and do more work at home later in the evening, which is kind of hit or miss, but does make him happy to be going home earlier than in prior years.

6. Two Truths and a Lie Rocks! We have discovered that this is the best way to learn more about the kids' days - playing the game Two Truths and a Lie at dinner concerning something that happened today. We have also learned that the kids are terrible liars. ;)

5. Daniel really wants to do Garden Club. I am not even sure if this exists this school year, but I mentioned this previously when trying to sell Daniel on the idea of a new school and now he has totally latched on to the idea. Probably because there is no way he will ever learn such valuable skills at home. ;)

4. Both kids are playing tennis for the first time this year. This is super convenient, because it is at the tennis club right next to Daniel's school. Both kids reported that hitting the ball is harder than it looks. I am hoping that it sticks, though, because we are kind of running out of sports to try. ;)

3. The Minecraft Love will Never Die. From either child. Never ever ever. Never. Ever. But if I had to choose a screen-time hobby of obsession, at least this one involves some creativity . . .

2. Everyone we encounter is so helpful. This has made the transition to Daniel's new school so much easier - all of the people that we knew or have met who go there have been so very helpful in answering my bombardment of questions and making us feel welcomed. Thank you so much!!

1. Best of all . . . so far, so good!! The kids seem to both be thriving this year. They are happy to get up in the morning and happy to go to school. They each love walking to school in the morning. They each are very happy with their teachers. They each have friends in their class. And knowing that they are happy makes it so very much easier for this often-worried mama!

How has back-to-school or this time of year been for your family?