Funny how we all post our best pics of smiling kiddos on the first day of school, but no one seems to see the reality of the days after.
Courtesy of Sarah Shrader
You know one thing we don’t seem to talk about enough? The second day of school. And the third. And the fourth. Actually, pretty much the entire first month.
You see, there’s all this hype for the first day of school – the excitement of going back – those feelings of newness and possibilities. All of the anticipation and fun of the first day builds up so much that most kids don’t even realize that they stayed up half the night because their mom never made them get back on a schedule, and they’re not even tired!
That is, until day two comes. That is when the crash hits. The morning seems so much earlier than the first morning – filled with way less unknowns and excitement. That morning it is like the air is let out of the balloon and realization sets in that it wasn’t just one day of fun – there is an entire school year ahead of them.
Seriously, on the first day of school this year, when I went in to wake Reagan, she popped out of bed fully dressed with her shoes on! Apparently, she had woken up super early and was excited so she got ready, then realized it was only 5 a.m. so she went back to sleep. There was pep in her step, and a smile on her face — full of ambition.
On day two, I had to go back into her room three times before she got out of bed. In fact, she asked me to bring her clothes to her so she could just get dressed in bed. Then, she snuggled back up in her blanket and tried to go back to sleep.
Within minutes, the old familiar beginning of the school year bellyache started back up. The same upset tummy she has had every year now for the first month of school. The nerves and anxiety catching up to her – the thought of a full day – and not the first day – of school overwhelming her.
Next came the tears – you know, the ones that absolutely shatter a Mama’s heart? Ugh. Immediately it took me back a few years when I let her miss the bus and drove her to school because she was so upset. Once we were at the front of the drop-off-line, she wouldn’t let go of me. And I am not sure how much you know about a drop off line, but they are serious about keeping it moving. In fact, one of the monitors had to come peel her off of me, practically disrobing me in the process.
She cried. I cried – all day long. She was fine within minutes of being inside the building – I was a mess all day worrying about her. But, I learned that she would be okay once she was there – which means not babying her in the morning. And well, that’s really hard for me! When my kiddos cry, I want to wipe their tears – not basically tell them to toughen up and get on the bus.
But that’s how second days go – and third. And fourth. There’s an adjustment period – even when we do finally figure out earlier bedtimes and more sleep – it still takes some time to get used to a new normal. Even if she comes home from school with a report of an amazing day – it’s like she forgets it the next morning. There are daily tummy aches and heart-breaking tears. There’s guilt and desire to just leave her home – but knowledge of the fact that it will only make the next day that much worse.
But we will get through it – like we always have in the past. We will read our morning devotional together through tear-filled eyes, pray over the day and all the adventures ahead and speak positive thoughts and words into the morning air. We will soak up extra hugs and extra kisses – and maybe just one more kiss – just because.
Slowly but surely, she will find her rhythm – day two will turn to day three which will turn to week two and turn to week three. Before long, she will whip out the door barely giving me a kiss and rushing to the bus stop on her own. She will be a pro at the morning routine and ready to take on the day.
But until then, it’s a little rough in the mornings – both for her and all her emotions and this Mama seeing her upset. Funny how we all post our best pics of smiling kiddos on the first day of school, but no one seems to see the reality of the days after.
It’s not day one anymore, but thankfully we are moving forward, and it’s not day two anymore either.
Sarah (Pitson) Shrader was born and raised in Lima. She is a Lima Central Catholic and Tiffin University graduate. Sarah is a full-time working mama who enjoys writing about her somewhat crazy, always adventurous life as a mom and bonus mom. She lives in Bath Township with her husband, Lee Parsons, and their seven kids.
