We are all about transitions around here right now. After two and a half weeks of school, we’re all still finding our footing in routines and rhythms.
But here we are, figuring it out with a kindergartner, sixth-grader, and high school freshman. I am thankful they’re all on the same campus because that makes my mom taxiing easier.
Rachel is getting used to all-day school five days in a row. Ben has multiple teachers and classrooms, an email address mostly for Google Classroom, and a locker for the first time. Cate is officially a high schooler and has a schedule that gave her choices for the first time.
We’ve got some new rhythms in our daily life, but I know we are just getting started and more routines will come. We will add soccer practices for two kids and church small groups.
Before school started, I felt like I made a million decisions as a school board member and a mom. Then, of course, we had some disruptions even getting school started. We closed on our second day so many of our teachers could go to a funeral for a former student at our small school.
That same day off of school, Ben started feeling poorly and had some symptoms we thought could be COVID. Most of his class was then quarantined. He took multiple rapid and send-off COVID tests over the coming days, but he never tested positive and started feeling better after a few days. I’m guessing an unnamed virus struck.
Cate still has antibodies from when she had COVID in February, plus she’s fully vaccinated now. Rachel missed a couple of days while we were waiting for Ben’s tests results.
Now that everybody seems healthy, we’re trying to make the most of this new season. I’m recognizing my availability. I can show up for people while my kids are at school. I can tackle the neverending to-do list, help my husband, and catch up around the house. Honestly, I’m taking life one day, one thing at a time, and praying I’ll see where God wants me to step next.
My favorite part of this new school season has been hearing Cate and Ben talk about shared moments in Upper School, where the middle and high schoolers have a shared house system, some electives, and recess time. They’ve talked about kickball, Knock Out basketball games, and funny things that have happened in their hallways. Cate even helped Ben with some math homework the other night.
As I was making dinner one evening last week, I caught a glimpse of my two oldest sharing a table and I whispered a prayer that their shared experiences in school this year will create a deeper bond. Their youngest sister will certainly be watching them — in the hallways at school where she’s quick to hug and right here at home where we all belong together.
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What’s this season look like for you? Of course, we held onto summer this past weekend with some time at the lake, a homemade slip-and-slide with friends, pool time, and sunkissed, bug-bitten skin. But we know we’re also transitioning into whatever God has for us next.
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