Transitions

The boys are almost through their first week of school, and I guess if I had to define the transition, I would say it was going "as well as can be expected". Like most things in our family. Henry's new attitude is helping. He's going outside his comfort level and playing with new friends. His new teacher has rules and expectations and organization. Which, for Henry, is going to be huge. His need for order may or may not have something to do with being raised by a control freak.

Jack is trying something new this year, too. Not shoving all his papers into the bottom of his backpack. So far, he's only tried putting things away neatly once, but, you know, baby steps. By far the biggest transition is at home. We have decided to eliminate tv and video games completely on school days. In previous years, it was allowed, but limited to one hour total screen time each day. Out of boredom, the poor children have been forced to interact with each other, read more books, and go outside.

My comfort level has also been tested. My tendency toward agoraphobia gets pretty severe during the summer months, and going out of the house several times a day to drop off/pick up kids and interact with grown-ups in a way that doesn't bring shame upon our house is always a challenge.

Tomorrow, the girls start kindergarten. They say they are excited, but Grace won't poop and Olivia had her first vomiting migraine yesterday, so obviously they're a little nervous. Today was their orientation/meet n' greet with the teacher, who mentioned that she doesn't have parent helpers until October. I volunteered to stand in the corner and hold the kids' coats or something, and I could tell she was mentally clicking off a "crazy" checkmark for me. Like that would stop me. I scoped out a place in the bushes outside the window where I can hide and spy. That is, before I go home. By myself. Just me and the dog.

Alone.

Oh, and Mitch, don't think I'm going to have any extra time to do the dishes, because I'm going to be bereaved.