Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Identity issues

So Jamie was clearly in a thoughtful mood after school yesterday. I took them to get ice cream to celebrate the first day of school. Out of nowhere, he began talking about our jobs. Then he said, "Dad, you remember how you once said maybe you would get a pickup truck? [it was just a passing moment of post-tenure imagining] It would be strange if you went to Rice in a pickup truck, especially if it was purple [my favorite color he knows]." Connor agreed. Then he went on, "I mean, no offense, but you're not the biggest guy in the world. All the other coaches at Westbury Little League, Coach Steven, Coach Darrell, Coach Jim, they're all much bigger than you and drive trucks, so it kind of makes sense. I think you would look funny getting out of a big truck." A big truck goes by and Connor says "Yeah like that one!" Jamie laughed and agreed. So there it is, no truck for little Daddy.

Back to school

OK, so back to school means back to blogging. To be honest I've been fearing the first day of school. Jamie was so anti-school by the end of last year and all summer he's been dreading its approach. He scowls at "Back to school" promotions at the store. One of his good friends shifted to home-schooling last year and so he is convinced it's our fault that he has to go at all. For his part, I think Connor, left to his own devices would like school just fine, but he goes along with Jamie of course. Also, it means he has to get out of bed before 9, which never makes him happy.

But the morning wasn't as bad as feared. Jamie didn't put up much of a fight and Connor wasn't too angry about getting out of bed. Here they are going into school:

I was so happy when the got in the car and were in great moods. Jamie immediately said "I LOVE my teacher!!!" He never said anything close to that all year and contrasted it with last year when they had tests all day the first day. Connor has a substitute while he teacher is on maternity leave but he said the sub made him a helper and added "I know everyone in my class!" So happy boys. Today was a little bit of a battle because neither wanted to get up, but so far we are already off to a better start.