The End of School Days

Today was the last day of school for the boys. Ty finished up 1st grade and Zach finished up Kindergarten. We bought each of their teachers a card and a small gift to say goodbye. Zach's teacher was Ty's Kindergarten teacher last year and she did a great job with both of them, but she'll still be teaching Kindergarten next year so we'll only be seeing each other in passing. Ty's teacher is leaving the building to take a teaching position in another school in the area, so we won't be seeing her at all. She was wonderful with Ty and helped him progress so much. I'll miss both of them; they're really great teachers.

They had their Awards Assembly yesterday morning and it was fun. Both boys won awards for Writing and Attendance; Ty won an award for art and Zach won "Character Kid of the Year." That award is for showing character, not because he is one (he really is, though). I'm so very proud of them both. I was teary just watching them accept their certificates.

Now they get four days off before they start summer school. It's voluntary here in MO, for the lower grades. It gives the boys a chance to see what school will be like next year. There is still learning but no homework; and it helps them to remember what they learned this year. It's only for the month of June, but it keeps them occupied and they're not out playing in the streets all summer long.

By they time they're finished on July 2nd, I'll be finished with my degree-my last day of classes is June 23rd-so we can spend July and part of August together just hanging out in the yard. It'll be fun because they've complained for the past three years that my school work is more important than they are. They know it's not true but it's something to keep them whining. I'm willing to bet, though, that after spending a solid week with Mom at their sides-all day, every day, they'll be yelling at me to find something to do. "Mom, don't you have some laundry to do or something? You're invading our space." :) It's okay if they do complain because we all need a break from one another at some point. It'll be fine, I'm sure.

I can't wait to be able to just sit outside and watch them play or to join them in a game of tag. Right now I'm so wrapped up in finishing my final term that I'm about to lose my mind. It's really kicking my ass. The work is so involved and takes so long to research that my poor brain is on overload. That's why I'm here tonight. I have no projects to do this week, just getting ready for the final two weeks of actual graded work. Even though week seven of the ten-week term started today, I'm giving myself a break to kind of wind down and realign before I get to spend all day tomorrow sitting at the computer.

One thing I'm really looking forward to is ending the constant neck and back pain. My ass hurts, too, just from sitting here constantly, and my sciatic nerve is always pinching me. Imagine, a life free from body aches. Aaahhh. I know that will never happen, but even a little less ache is better that what I've got now. No worries. Soon enough I'll get to lie on the floor all day if I want to just to feel better. In the meantime, I'll look forward to the end of my classes and to spending a full six weeks with the kids-school work free. That'll definitely keep me going.

They will be days filled with love, hugs and kisses all around, and on a constant basis. Lots of laughter, too. Not that we don't have that now, but there will be lots more of it when we're all free of our school bonds. I smile just thinking about it.