Another Year

Three years ago I would have woken up today, put on a dress, got a lunch together, checked my bag for the 10th time, said a little prayer, and drove about 5 miles down the road to walk into my 3rd grade classroom.

I would have written a little "Welcome to 3rd Grade!" note on the board.

I would have laid out papers and a little surprise on 20 desk.

I would have put some fun yet not to exciting music on.

I would have checked all my bulletin boards that I worked hard on, straightened my math meeting board, and admired my back to school decorations making sure that my room looked fun, inviting, friendly, and educational all at the same time.

I would have waved to my fellow teachers and say "Can you believe that today is the first day of school?"

I would have prayed, "Please, Lord, let me have a good year!"

I would have felt nervous and excited.

Then I would have opened my door and made sure to welcome each and every student into my classroom.

I would also wave to and hug my other kids who had grown a little taller over the summer and were now not my kids at all.

I would assure both parents and students that this was going to be a good day and a great year!

I would point to where I had arranged a spot for tissues, paper, pencils, and a bunch of other school supplies.

I would open a little gift or two that a shy 8 year old would hand to me and then "OOhh" and "Aww" over it, give them a hug and say thank you.

I would look out at 20 faces that I knew were looking at me wondering if they were going to like me, and if I was going to like them. (They didn't know that I was thinking the same thing.)

I knew some of them were happy to be there and some of them would have rather been anywhere else in the world. (They didn't know that I had both of those same feelings too.)

I then would start the day, trying to be the fun teacher who took them on a scavenger hunt, let them introduce themselves with little posters and "Me bags".

I would let them look at their books and tell them about all the fun things that they were learn about.

We talked about our room, our rules, our class - and I would try to make it seem like we were part of a fun little team, just the 20 of us.

I would would smile when a handsome police officer would show up at my classroom door with flowers and would say hello to all my new kids.

I would make sure that I talked to each one of those new kids during the day trying to learn something about them, and hopefully remember their name, sometimes having to sneak a peek at the apple name tag on their new desk.

We would all make it through the day - all of us on our best behavior.

Soon it was time to go home.

We would say our goodbyes, some of them waving and saying "Bye Mrs V! See you tomorrow!" and some of them grabbing their things and rushing out to car line as fast as possible.

I would wait for all of them to go, then I would go back to that room, sit in that big chair, and sigh.

Another year had begun.

Today, I am sitting in another big chair. A big comfy red one in my living room.

I am wearing pjs and listening to a 2 year old laugh and giggle.

"Eggo, Go, Go, Go" (aka Go, Diego, Go) is playing in the background.

I really don't have much planned for the day.

Just a day as a stay at home mommy.

While I really miss those kids, fun back to school decorations and bulletin boards - I am SO glad to be here at home today.

And I know that before I know it, one of those 20 little faces will be the face of a beautiful little girl named Alyse, and another year will have begun.