The love of back to school

 

I always loved the first day of term! The new uniform and shiny shoes, new very sharp pencils, a completely clean new eraser and a new pencil case with everything set out just so. A new exercise book, virgin white, completely untouched and waiting for me to make my first mark. This was half exciting, and half terrifying, what if I made a mistake on that first page? Of course who could forget the smell of a new book?

From early primary throughout my schooling, back to school was a time to look forward to, regardless of how much I enjoyed the long summer holiday and now, as a Mother with one child going back to school, I feel a similar excitement. Don’t get me wrong, I have adored having Kieran at home. It’s been a very full summer (with a few PJ days thrown in for good measure!) and best of all it has been the first summer with Kieran and Taylor together. Now though I am in need of more routine (and less nights working to the wee hours!) but also I’m excited for Kieran.

It’s his new school year, his first day in another year that will see him learn, grow, experience and enjoy. The new pencils, the ever so slightly too big uniform to grow into, the new lunchbag and coat zipped up all the way are all his now. Does he get the same kick out of school year that I did? We are a generation apart and he is a boy. Does he feel the same?

I asked Kieran today how he felt about going back to school. His words included:

“I can’t wait to see Charley and William – they are my best friends when we are on the playground“.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Miss P, but I have to call her Mrs G now because she got married when we were on holiday“.

“I’m looking forward to assembly. I like assembly and I’ll get my certificate from Mrs Y for doing my library reading challenge – cool!”

“I can’t wait to go to gardening club. I wasn’t allowed to go last year because I was only in Reception. I’m in Year 1 now so I’m much more grown up“.

He is certainly excited, perhaps for different reasons to those I had but it’s good all the same. Perhaps he doesn’t “get” the new book smell and the thrill of the empty noticeboard, ready to be filled with pictures and words, but he does love back to school all the same and that’s good enough. I’m very grateful he loves school as he does.

And me? My pinafore has long been outgrown but I’ll always love back to school, be it mine or the children’s. It’s such a magical, new and hopeful time.

What about you? Did you love or loathe the new school year? Has this changed as you’ve got older / had children yourself?