One of my favorite bloggers plans a back to school feast for her children on the eve of back to school. They break out the fancy food, fancy china, and use the dining room, treating it as an occasion worth celebrating. I love this idea. I had hoped to do something similar, but illness, last minute running around for missing school supplies, missing immunizations, and the kids already committed to activities put a damper on it. I think our back to school ever was me running around the house like a crazed person, trying to organize all that needed to be done for the next day, while trying to maintain a chipper attitude. Trying being the operative word here.
Other people I know take photos of their kids every year standing by the front door, for some perspective on their growth I am guessing, and have them wear the same clothes on the last day of school. I fear that my boys are so hard on clothing that they will have to end the last day of school in nothing but tattered rags.
Of course I took photos of my kids on their first day of school. My oldest son who is a freshman in highschool told me that all of his friends at school were laughing and saying that their mothers were taking their photos also. That made him feel like he wasn’t the only poor tortured child out there.
We are only on Day Three of school here, but the after school snack seems to be the tradition here. So far I have baked treats for them when they come home from school (It gives me the additional benefit of having something to do with my four year old who is home with me all day). Now, I am pretty sure that I will not continue to bake every single day, but their excitement has made me mindful of what sort of snacks they would like to see waiting for them when they get off of the school bus. Relatively healthy snacks, I should add, because I know more than anything they would love to see a vat of candy. Parenting Magazine has some recipes for Super, Yummy Afterschool snacks. I think my kids would really like the Strawberry “Cheesecakes”, which are essentially graham crackers with a cream cheese and jam spread. But part of the allure of the after school snack, at least at my house, is that I set the table and they sit with me and I get to hear all about their day.
Do you have any Back to School traditions? Any things you do that are unique to your family?
We do not, but now that I’ve read this – I just may! Thanks!
Comment by Claire — September 1, 2009 @ 7:58 am
I always take a first day of school picture by the front door, but I also take a last day of school picture. It’s been fun (and sad) to look back and see how much they’ve grown during the school year. I also like that their look changes from the first day to the last. Apprehension from the first day to very excited for summer on the last day.
Comment by Sharon — September 4, 2009 @ 5:13 pm
It was my son’s first day at school last week. He is *just* 4, but due to our UK schooling system he starts Reception (Kindergarten) this year instead of when he is 5 (he is an August birthday, and the cutoff is 1st September – he is not legally obliged to attend til he turns 5, but then he would go straight into Yr 1). We took a photo of him in his uniform (most schools in the UK have uniforms) he is in a state-funded church school, it would be a church-funded public school in the US, if such things exist?). Then on Sunday, we took him and his sister out for dinner at a sushi joint to celebrate him starting school. As he is our first child to start school, we get to make the traditions up as we go
Comment by Jen — September 8, 2009 @ 9:52 am