For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
This is the story of our start back to school, after five years of homeschooling.
First of all, our little Caleb didn’t know how to tie his shoes quite yet. Papa bought him snazzy new shoes with laces and Mama groaned, so Papa went right to work teaching the little guy how to tie.
He got it figured out in about 10-15 minutes.
Rich made him practice over and over as I watched.
The thing is, it takes a beginner a V E R Y L O N G T I M E to get the ties done.
So I started making up some silly songs about how it takes a long time to make those loops. And Rich said to stop, “You’re distracting Caleb. Go away.” I said, “Caleb! Do I really have to go away?” He laughed, “No, you don’t.”
So I started singing again and Caleb said, “If you’re going to keep singing that, than you do have to go away.”
Right after he said that, and I was pretending to be shocked, just a fraction of a second later, I took this picture.
Aches on Monday evening. Mama-heart aches, small ones…just thinking and praying, “Dear Lord, keep us close even though the children will be all on their own (separated), at school, beginning tomorrow.” Watching them play, trying not to think negatively, but positively, knowing it is for their very best interest to go and grow their wings. They play so well together, our happy gang. Sarah is way too little for the trampoline and was in her red car, busily peeling the stickers off it. The new kittens were out with us, too, frolicking about.
We had an “end of life as we know it” & “end of summer vacation” hot dog roast.
Seth absolutely insisted on roasting his own hot dog, but only lasted about 15 seconds because the fire was so hot.
Rich was on his back, resting, when Sarah toddled over and got right on him for a snuggle, it just melted his heart and the children said, “Take a picture, MOM!”
On Monday night we had baths, packed up the lunches, gathered up the five different outfits, shoes and socks, lined up the backpacks.
We woke up the three older children on Tuesday morning, at 5:30. They ate breakfast, the boys showered, they got dressed. I barely got to take this picture before the bus showed up, in the rain, to take them to school. All three on the same bus. It arrived at 6:30. They left, I cried…..
They’ve grown and matured so much in the last five years. They are such good children. I asked Rich, “How did we end up with such wonderful children?” I know all parents feel this way, but I truly am just so humbled and thankful to God for the way they are. I would not change a thing about any of them. They surprise and delight me on a daily basis.
David and Caleb woke up while the older ones were still home. They were all ready for school by about 7.
Look at the shoes! He’s big!
David was seriously ready for his third grade responsibilities.
They love their snazzy backpacks from potterybarn kids.
David and Caleb rode different busses, and they arrived at the house at the same time. They were picked up and gone so fast. You saw the one picture I got, of Caleb, that I posted yesterday. It makes Rich and I both sad to look at it, a happy and proud sort of sad. 
They were gone, and then Rich took a picture with the ones I was left with.
I look amazingly happy, but after Rich left for work, I sat on the couch to read “Little Red Caboose” to the little ones, thought of David and Caleb, Jacob, Ethan, and Grace, and the very many times I’ve read that story through the years to each one of them. Seth and Sarah were snuggled up close, but the rest of the house was too quiet and still. I cried through half the book. Remembering. Yet, so very thankful for the opportunity to single mindedly mother these two precious small children while the others are at school.
We got through half the book before Seth lost interest (didn’t like the sad version?) and wandered off to get into mischief and I was very soon back to normal. LOL
I had to go out for Sarah’s doctor’s check up, there was nothing to note except that she is dropping off her curve in weight. So, I need to give her full fat yogurt, full fat milk, lots of buttery sandwiches, peanut butter, egg yolks, and so on. I will do this as I whisper, “Please enjoy this, you lucky baby, because when you are 30-something you will miss this rich kind of eating!”
We made cookies without a hundred interruptions from 6 other children.
Me and my little friend Seth, as Sarah quietly played at our feet.
And later on, I got the table ready for the children to return.
I put the little ones to bed for naps, sat on the couch to enjoy my book, and then got a call from the High School from Jacob cheerfully telling me he “missed the bus, would you come get me, please?”
I had to leave a note on the door for Ethan and Grace! They came home to an empty house!
Jacob’s first day of school: Had trouble figuring out how to work the combination on his locker. Asked for help three times from students and teacher alike. Noted the crowds of students that he had to get through to get anywhere. Saw friends from baseball. Ate lunch at any ol’ place but had one boy sit and talk to him. Had a mass of rules and papers for me to look at, read, and sign. Apparently had no problems talking to people, but admitted he had some nervous feelings and wasn’t able to eat much of his lunch. (wow, I thought, he must’ve been excited to not be able to EAT.) And, he missed the bus home. Had homework, writing about a memorable childhood experience.
Ethan: He paced around the house as he told me about his locker woes. He locked his combination right in and spent the first half of the day carrying his things everywhere. “Just bending down to pick up the pen cap that I dropped made me drop my books!” Had to find a teacher to help him get his locker open. “She made me do it myself so I would learn.” Missed the majority of lunch just trying to get his lunch out of his locker. He ate by himself cheerfully. “Earlier in the day some boys had asked me to sit with them, and they said later ‘why didn’t you eat with us?’ and I told them I was too busy and I would sit with them tomorrow.” Ethan forgot his assignment book at school, right on his desk. He seems to be the most undisciplined about his thoughts/belongings/responsibilities. Absentminded professor? He’ll figure it out. He’s so cheerful about it all, absolutely not bothered about a thing. Makes me laugh. He had to write his English teacher a letter for homework, telling him about himself. I read it, and it was great. He even put it in an envelope, because it was a letter, after all.
Grace: Nervous about science, the teacher made her nervous. Found out she has to dissect a frog this year (could this be part of it?!) The tall lab tables made her nervous. The music teacher singled her out, “You have the last name of one of my favorite composers AND my daughter’s first name!” She liked her Math teacher, who said her goal was to make math fun for her students. Sat with some friendly girls at lunch who invited her. Grace is calm and mature about it all but I get the feeling that the pointless busy work of the first day made her feel impatient. Also, she spoke with Jacob and told him that he had to memorize their bus number. (so he doesn’t miss it again).
David: Noted that his MAN teacher (a first) is a Red Sox fan. Said school was awesome. David is the one child that already went to public for K, and 1st. I taught him for 2nd. “I washed my hands with soap and it was the same soap from when I went to school before and I smelled my hands and said, ‘this sure brings back memories!'” As an aside, “I’m going to have to wash my hands every day again, ” he informed me. (!!)
Caleb: He didn’t say much about it but that he loved it and it was great. Last night when I was tucking him in, I said, “Well, Caleb, do you have any nice stories to tell me about your first day of school?” He said, “They didn’t read me any stories. Could you read me a story?” So, I snuggled up next to him and we read a book about a gingerbread man, and he touched my arm as I read and I could smell his little boy Caleb smell and we relaxed as I read and read and………
…….and everything felt right again.
Good to be Home 
smiling. so glad it went well. one day at a time, right. just like everything else in parenting {in life}!!! 🙂
First of all children are a reflection of their parents… so you know how you got good kids. ;)Second of all how much growth and maturity you and your kids are going to do this up coming year with these new experiences. I have never experienced before the “the new kid” in school. I can not even imagine the feelings they went through and all the things they will learn through this! As for you, letting your flock go a little this way.. as a mom I can not imagine again your feelings! I am excited to hear how you all will grow through this whole thing. The things your children will encounter and the love and teachings of Christ you installed in them thus far and how that will work out in their lives this upcoming year. What a very emotional but exciting time of spiritual growth for your family! May the Lord give you great wisdom, grace, and comfort through this all. Much love to you! Very proud of you Shanda!
Ethan and I must be kindred souls. 🙂 I so enjoyed this post, Shanda! 🙂
I’m thinking we are sharing the treasuring of mothering thoughts today. Oh I did enjoy this. Such sweet pictures, such tender fleeting moments, never to be repeated quite the same way again. Bless you precious Shanda.
I can only imagine how lonely the house must have felt. It feels so quiet and empty with just my ONE Mikayla gone at school! 🙂 I was nervous for the kids as I was reading about their first day but it sounds as though they made it through unscathed. They have such a strong foundation at home and I think that in the end that is the MOST important thing…who and WHAT they are coming home to every night. Other children can have influences on our children but never so great as the influence we have 🙂 I LOVE David’s description of the smell of the school soap. It was one of the FISRT things I remember about kk coming home after her first day of Kindergarten….the way her hands smelled. I remember tearing up realizing MY baby was in school and all of the memories from my own childhood came rushing back as I smelled that famiiar school soap scent.
Gosh I cried reading your post & looking at your pictures. I’m glad their first day went so well for all of them. Where did you get David & Caleb’s backpack? Matt is a huge star wars fan. I love those they look nice & sturdy.
i’m sure this is a huge change for you!! hoping it continues to go well for all of you!
Best post ever! It made me tear up–thinking of sending my little one to school–even thought it’s four or five years away!
I loved reading about the first day. You and Rich have done such a great job with your kids, and it shows! A 6:30 bus is early! Ethan still had sleepy eyes in the before school pic. Enjoy your day with Sarah and Seth, and hopefully everyone will find their bus home!
I’m sure your kids will do very well! Changes can be hard, especially for us moms!
I bet your house is much quieter without the other 5….did it take you awhile to get used to it? Or maybe Seth and Sarah made up for it since they weren’t used to it either 😛 Sounds like a great first day! Blessings on the rest of your week!
Shanda, you are so brave, you and Rich (and the kids!), doing what you know to be best for your family right now, even though it hurts, giving up something you loved because you knew it was time. That takes a lot of strength!I cracked up over Ethan’s experiences at school. So glad it didn’t faze him at all! And I’m so glad the kids are already meeting other kids and getting to know them, and adjusting to the classroom setting. I still remember my first day of college (do we have lockers? do we raise our hands when we have a question? do I talk to other students or try to slink into the background?), and it sounds like they are all adapting much easier, and at a younger age no less, than I did!Here’s hoping for an extra-special autumn for you and the two littles, in this, your first season alone together.
What a wonderful post Shanda. Love the end of summer activities. Riches expression during the shoe tying is priceless…you distracting mama you. Cracked me up. I second the comment about your children being so wonderful because of all you and Rich have been putting into them, with the Lord’s grace and help of course! Wonderful stories of their first day. I so understand your feelings. We kinda did it in reverse. I wanted to homeschool the boys when they were little, but I was going through a lot of treatments at the time for the CFIDS and allergies, so had to give it over to the Lord and put them into elementary school. I cried and cried missing them, but then got to bring them home for 6-12th. God leads and does good, and I know that you and Rich will continue to shepherd and guide them. My love to you~!
awwww. what a journey full of ups and downs…one day it will seem like ‘just yesterday’ when this all happened. i am so thankful that you have been able to record these memories and been able to share the ups and downs with us..i like your sharing of each child’s take on what the first day of school was like. praying for you each as the journey and transition continues.
Oh Shanda, big HUG. I remember so well when my husband told me, “the kids are ALL going to school this year.” That was so hard for me. It was time, but only for a season, thankfully, for them to go. It took a year of adjusting for us all. One child did come back within a month due to a mean teacher. But the others did well. They stayed in school for a few yrs then they all came home. It was time. It is hard and in this time the Lord will draw you near to Him. The blessing of being there for Seth and Sarah is immeasurable. What a sweet Mama, baking goodies for them! What a treat for both of you Priceless pictures~ Cinnamon
OH dear…. you had me crying and laughing and remembering!
Shanda I am so touched by this post. I left u a little comment on facebook before I saw this post:) God bless you and your family as you enter this new chapter of life. Big hugs to you!!
Aw…….Your feelings, your words, your childrens days….Sound SOOOOO similiar to my little families week also…..I cried two days in a row….My hubby stayed with me both mornings when the first morning my two oldest Jade and Gideon had their first day of school and rode the bus for the very first time…..He usually leaves for work at 5am and stayed home till the kids were off at 8am and as we video taped and took pictures and waved goodbye he grabbed my hand and we turned and walked back up the drive and all he said was “I’m sorry”. Which I knew meant I am sorry you are aching and sad and longing for the littles….He is so good for me. And then the next day which was even harder was seeing my baby off to ride the same bus to her first full day of Kindergarten….He was there for me that morning also…He has a very understand boss who sent his “baby” off to college this year so knows these moments do just fly by….Now I am crying again LOL typing this….Geesh!!!! All this to say I am glad you have a like minded mommies heart…One who doesn’t cheer to see her babes leave but tears up and whose heart aches after the bus drives down the rode….I will stop typing as I am typing a book. LOL. Blessings on your week. Enjoy the “babies” at home. ❤
I have been waiting for this post, wondering how the first couple of days went for all of you, but especially for the mom. You have done a marvelous job capturing the first day. I really love David’s comments, but it was great to hear from all of them. And I think you chose the perfect ending for your post with reading Caleb a story. Love and hugs to you, my friend in this new season of your life.
Glad everyone had a good first day. It makes the change easier.Your three oldest are looking so grown up…even just in the past year!Little Caleb is so cute. Love the adorable things he said about washing his hands.Happy Friday to you! =)
So glad they had a great day. Where did you get their backpacks? I love the Star Wars ones:)