"I have a lot of excitement in my life. I used to call it tension, but I feel much better now that I call it excitement." ~Madeleine Costigan
We are in a pretty significant transition period right now. Like MAJOR stuff is changing in MAJOR ways.
Unlike the transition from school year to summer, we aren't winding things down. Instead we are adding events to our calendar almost faster than the color-coded ink can dry. Going from Summer-slow to Back-to-School chaos is hard. And daunting. My calendar kinda makes me break out into a sweat just looking at it. And chaos is nothing new to us...
This transition into school stuff is bigger than most of the others we've been through. Maybe the first time we put Spencer on a school bus was emotional comparable, but then we didn't have eleventy million other things going on. And there was just that ONE big change.
This year we have a starting Freshman and a starting Kindergartner. When you say that to people in conversation it gets almost as many exclamations as telling people you have 4 boys. I suppose there aren't too many people out there with that kind if spread. And honestly, I'm not sure I'd recommend it. So. Much. Change. And all at once.
We have no idea what we're doing with high school. Everything seems foreign and murky. I think our high school has done a great job communicating what the kids need to do. And I think we've done it all. But I have no idea if we've done it RIGHT. I guess we'll find out. I know we will navigate around all of the uncertainty and by the time we get to our last rising Freshman, this will feel warm and comfortable. But this first time through is, well, it's just daunting. For me... Spencer, of course, is totally, 100% fine and ready to go. He's not worried. And can't wait for next Thursdays. He says he's reached the point of the summer where he's "kinda bored". (Glad someone is...)
I've attached a copy of his schedule for this year. I swear it took me 20 minutes to decipher what he would actually be doing from one day to the next. (I may have charted day-by-day, which is a WAY easier way to read this thing...) This is way more complicated than the schedule I had in high school!!!
Quinn is going into 8th grade. I can handle 8th grade. Been there/done that. He is getting an almost entirely new management team at his school, but given he doesn't need special services and doesn't (knock on wood) spend any time in the principal's office, that's not even a big deal. We know the school. We know the people. We're good! (Quinn is easily the most bummed of all the boys that summer is over. He's really enjoyed his summer of lazy luxury!)
Zane is going into 2nd grade. Again, been there. We don't find out his teacher until next Tuesday, but it doesn't really matter. He will be fine. He'll still be going to the same Horizons teacher and walking the same hallways. He's ready and excited - despite not getting a new backpack...
And then Beckett. If there was ever a child ready for the next phase, it's Beck. I think sending he and Zane to summer camp at the elementary school has probably given him a bit of a false sense of confidence. He's pretty sure he knows exactly what school is going to be like. And he's pretty sure he's going to be awesome at it. (Actually so am I... I just also feel the need to apologize to his teacher in advance for the added challenges coming her way!) My hope for Beckett this year is that he figures out how to decide when it's time to listen and behave! We will tackle our very last "School bus Round up" next Tuesday. So hard to believe...
All of that is just the SCHOOL part of the Back-to-School craziness. The other half is all sports related - and honestly the part that has me nearly immobilized with anxiety. Spencer, Zane and Beckett are all playing football. Their practices kick off in earnest tonight. Spencer will go every day after school (4-6) and the little boys each have 2 weekday and 1 weekend practice every week until games start. I guess I was oddly naive in thinking that the little guys would have practice at the same time/same place. In hindsight, I am WAY more seasoned than that... and I really should have expected what happened. They are in different parks at the same time twice a week. That alone would be fine, except that Spencer is going to need to somehow get home in the middle of that. So - we'll be begging rides ALL season. I am gonna owe a bunch of people a bunch of stuff come November!
Did I mention that the little boys have fallen in LOVE with jiu jitsu and it's been so good for them in SO many ways that we signed them up again. I mean that's logical right? They have football on Tuesday and Thursday and jiu jitsu is Monday/Wednesday/Friday. Seems like fate wants them to do both. Right?!?!?
Quinn is playing lacrosse this fall. He's got practice 3 times a week too. And, of course, 2 of those dates are the non-football days. It's good because it helps logistics. It's bad because we don't have any days off. Ever. From now until fall break. (Excuse me while I breathe into a paper bag for a second...)
I kid. I know it'll be busy. I know we will get tired. I know I'll see far less of my husband than I like as we pass in the drive, each following our logistical plan before collapsing in bed at night.
I also know we'll get through it. I know we'll have a blast along the way. I know the boys will all grow in so so so many different ways. And I know that this time of utter craziness is only a phase - and one I will likely miss a great deal. Next fall Spencer can drive himself around. And act as a 3rd driver to get through all the other activities. In the blink of an eye, my weekly calendar logistic gymnastics will be a distant memory. Before we know it we'll be down to 2 schools instead of 3. Then 1...
Time flies. And with a schedule like ours, it'll be over before we even realize it's kinda hard.
I know all of this... it's just the suspense is killing me!
Have a great week everyone! And if you come for a visit, expect to play chauffeur!
PS - for anyone interested, Spencer will play his games on Thursday nights. The little boys will have games on Saturdays. Quinn's season is a bit different than seasons past and is focused on development over games, so if you are looking for some lacrosse action, check back in the spring when all 4 will be back on a lacrosse field.
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