The bells are ringing again, and this time both of my children are hearing them at the same time! That translates into Caroline and Reid attending middle school together for this one year, and I will admit that it was glorious being on one schedule once again! And fortunately for this late-nighter, it's the late schedule for middle school.
Yesterday morning was a sweet start to what I feel is going to be an awesome year, and not because I get to sleep in! (Can you tell I am celebrating a later start to my day?!) Caroline and Reid had each set out their clothes the night before, and I had been informed of what they would like for breakfast - well, that was facilitated by my breakfast eater, Reid - and Caroline had made her lunch the night before. We had allocated so much time to adjust to this first day of school, that after hairs were in place and faces admired (not sure if the teeth were brushed), we ended up standing around and watching the Olympic coverage on The Today Show.
The night before, though, was entertaining in itself. Both Caroline and Reid had set out the clothes they would wear on the first day of school. It is a big decision, and sometimes it can be a difficult one. Reid stood in front of his display admiring it, and confidently admitting that he was going to look good! It was adorably honest, and his admission made me appreciate that he must be looking forward to his first day of middle school. His stomach had been bothering him since the weekend, which I figured were his nerves acting up. So, you can see why I liked hearing these words come from his mouth and hopefully from his heart, as well. (For those who aren't familiar with our schools, he came from an elementary school of 900+ students, and the schools get increasingly larger as you move up. I believe there are at least that many in these 3 grades, so it can be very overwhelming when 3 elementary schools are combined.)
Caroline had also made her choice of an existing pair of jean capris, new shirt and new jewelry. She didn't at all verbally display her satisfaction with her choices, however I knew from shopping with her that she was delighted with what she had picked out. She had also experienced a couple of beauty treatments a few days prior, so I felt like she was stepping out with more confidence than she usually displays.
I mention all of that to say that I have noticed some maturity in my children over the summer. It's not only in their choices, but in the manner with which they handle themselves. They have treated each other with so much respect these last few days, and I have treasured EVERY moment. I know this will come and go, however I now know it's there, something that had not yet materialized. In not having a sibling, I have always thought and hoped that I would have treated one with respect and love, but in telling those words to my children they tell me that "I just don't know how it is to have a brother or a sister." No, I don't, but I think they are showing me in more ways than one how it truly is to be and to have a sibling. In other words, I'm learning to appreciate what these children have to offer me.
So, I took a side street for a minute....
The bus arrived at 8:38 a.m. to take these maturing children off to middle school. I didn't experience the same feelings as sending them off to kindergarten, for I was aware that my oldest was comfortable being among the older kids of the school, and my youngest was ready to handle the tasks ahead.
At 4:40 p.m., the bus returned with my middle-schoolers. I sat on a quilt in the front yard awaiting their appearance from behind our neighbor's bushes. I had with me a dozen fresh-from-the-oven chocolate chip and sugar cookies and two glasses of cold milk. Caroline and Reid traipsed across the yard to greet me while tossing down their book bags along the way. The shoes (flip-flops) also came off, and they sat down alongside me with smiles on their faces. The next 30 minutes were filled with tales of the first day and milk mustaches! I wouldn't trade this memory for "one million dollars", as they say. And I don't think my children would either; Reid asked last night if we could do that again today. (We did, but this time we had quesadillas and fruit.) From this "first day experience", I can tell it's going to be a fabulous year - from the first bell until the last on May 22nd! 
