Back to school means more workout pants
New Chapter
Stephanie Jordan
It’s our first day of Pre-K3. I have the perfect smocked dress for Tilly. An aqua gingham fabric with red rickrack trim and smocked apples with a big red bow for her hair and Sun Sandals to match. My daughter is the picture of preschool perfection. She’s smart. She’s sweet. And in this outfit, what’s not to love?
All summer, we’ve driven by our new school almost daily (mostly because we live one street over). We’ve talked about our new teacher and our new friends and how much fun all of her new activities are going to be. It seemed I almost had her convinced that, for once, change could be good.
On our first day, I march her down the front steps of the house for our inaugural “first day of school” picture. I’ve swooned over friends’ adorable, happy pictures that swarm my Facebook feed each new school year, and here we are taking our own first day pic.
“Smile, Tilly. Show me how excited you are about going to your new, big girl school.”
No smile. “Aren’t you excited? Show me how excited you are for your first day.”
“No.” I know to never underestimate the mood swings of a 3-year-old, so I take what I can get – a not-so-happy face – and decide not to push my luck. I think to myself that years from now we will look back on this moment and laugh. And what’s most important is that she gets through this transition and falls into her new place at her new school. The happy, “I love school” pictures may have to come later.
When we make it to the parking lot and begin walking toward the new campus and inside the building to her new classroom, I realize Tilly isn’t the only one facing a life transition. This is a change for me, too. I’m entering the world of checking folders each day, packing lunches, bringing class snacks and signing up to volunteer.
I’m going to need nicer workout clothes, too. My fellow school moms are all walking their children in to school in head-to-toe perfect workout looks. Long gone are my days of putting on running shorts with the T-shirt I slept in the night before. That’s not going to cut it. And, looking at these other moms, I might actually have to work out in my workout clothes.
As the first week goes on and the school duties start to come in for me and Tilly, I realize my Outlook calendar doesn’t have enough colorcoding capabilities to keep up with my conference calls and work appointments, the day-to-day life with a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old and now my newfound school responsibilities.
I need to go old school. Hard copy. Paper planner. Something that helps keep up with my life, the lives of my family, and if there’s room, maybe even what we’re having for dinner that night.
I feel bad for this day planner. That’s some heavy lifting. My brain has given up on processing it all on its own, and after trying for so long, I’m lucky to still remember how to spell my name.
I find my reinforcements – a momAgenda planner with room for it all, and I start filling in the blanks. If my world feels out of order, I can’t imagine what this transition feels like for my daughter. In a couple of weeks, I am optimistic we will be on the other side of this back-to-school challenge, and as a family, we will begin falling into our new roles and responsibilities.
I feel like I’m living out an episode of Bravo’s new scripted series “Odd Mom Out.” I’m a brunette in a beautiful blonde-headed world just trying to navigate a new scene … one awkward moment at a time.
I reached out to some veteran moms who’ve walked this road before. My question was simple: What makes your life easier? More than anything, I got a sense of peace in knowing that I’m not the only mom out there trying to figure this motherhood thing out. Turns out, I’m not as “odd” or as “out” as I’ve been feeling the past several weeks.
Some moms keep a spare bag in the car, or extra goodies in their purse (such as small notebooks and a few crayons), noting that a few silent moments can be the most helpful tool around. Lots of moms recommended the power they find in planning, like packing lunches, having backpacks ready, and laying out clothes (even mom’s) the night before.
One mom said she irons one to two weeks of school uniforms at a time so her daughter can pick and choose what she wants to wear and they’re ready to go each morning. And I have to admit, I was envious when a mom friend of mine said she made a shopping list on Excel with the items she most commonly buys, organized by sections in the grocery store. And when all else fails, one mom said all she needs is wine and baby wipes! I second the notion.
More than anything, I’m learning in this world of perfect Facebook pictures and false truths, the reality is that life is sometimes less than perfect. And for the most part, we’re finding and sharing the good in the middle of the messes, chaos and disorder of everyday life. And being imperfect isn’t odd. In fact, it’s pretty normal.
Stephanie Jordan is a local journalist, marketer and blogger.
Her blog can be found at www.stephanienetherton.blogspot.com, and she can be contacted at stephanienetjordan@gmail.com.
