Today is a big day for Eli.
There will only be 13 todays in his whole life.
Just 13 todays, out of 4,745 days in 13 years
Today is his last day of school.
His very first last day of school.
Parents can get crazy about the last day of school. Make an elaborate breakfast… have a run-through a banner greeting the kids after their walk home… shower them with Summer themed gifts.
And that’s awesome.
Their kids probably love it. And families are creating special memories their children with cherish forever.
We only have 13 last days of school with our children. It’s a big deal.
It’s a big deal, but you don’t need to raid the party store for luau themed decor or have pictures scrapbooked of all the major school events. Unless you love doing that, then do it. Just don’t feel like you have to because your FB Friend so-in-so made a last day of school outfit out of a repurposed dollar store tee shirts, then revealed a summer full of events while eating their child’s favorite home-churned ice cream. Don’t let the joy of these sweet small moments be sucked away because you need to top the year before. Comparing is bad, and you never know what people aren’t sharing in their FB status.
It doesn’t matter what you do. It doesn’t even have to be the same every year. It just has to work with your family.
Small Things are Big Things.
I really believe you can go the extra mile as a parent with very little effort. A perfect example is this St Patrick’s Day: I hadn’t done anything because I was incased in sadness – no green snack or leprechaun tracks or handmade traps. Eli came up to me while I was making lunch and said, “I guess the leprechauns forgot us this St Patrick’s Day.” Instead of feeling like a failure as a mom or smug that we are above celebrating frivolous holidays.
You know what I did?
I’ll tell you (it is my blog).
I got the green food coloring out of the cabinet and put a drop in each of their cups. When they got their water, it was green. Minds blown. Then while they were eating I moseyed into each of the bathrooms a put a few drops of food coloring into the toilet water. When the kids went into the bathrooms they were giddy that the leprechauns made the water green. Then I text Brad to pick up some Lucky Charms on the way home from work. The next morning those “pesky leprechauns” had switched out the Cheerios for Lucky Charms.
Then the kids started looking around the house, “Mom, I don’t think that pillow was green before.” Me either, honey. “Mommy, that picture didn’t have any green in it yesterday, I’m sure of it!” Those leprechauns did it again. We ended up searching the whole house and deliberating over everything green. It was fun. Really fun.
Did green food coloring and a box of Lucky Charms take much effort at all?
NO!
It was nothing.
And it was fun.
This is it folks. Time is a beast and we only have 13 last days of school.
And maybe not even that.
Do something.
Eat dessert first. Share your favorite school memory during dinner. Go out to dinner. Have a movie night. Roast marshmallows. Get icees. Play video games till 10pm. Let them pick whatever they want at the dollar store. Bake cookies or brownies or cake. Ask questions and just listen to the human you created tell you what’s on their mind, even if the only thing on their mind is inviting a friend over. Then invite the friend over. Celebrate.
Your kids don’t care. They just want to feel valued.
Don’t we all?
One of my friends on instagram makes homemade strawberry jam with her kids every year. How fun is that? It’s their “thing” now, but it may not always be their thing. Maybe when her kids are teens, they will think it’s lame. But then those teens will grow up, and have last-day-of-school-jam-sessions (see what I did there?) with their kids because they will look back at their childhood with their adult lenses and think, “that was a really special time, I even remember thinking how lame it was as a teen, but I really did have fun and it helped me know how much I was loved by my mom.”
Memories made. Lives impacted.
All part of the job.
What are you doing Kara Noel? (you’re thinking)
Well, we are having a backyard picnic after school. Our same PB & J’s, with a side of fruit and Pirate Booty. Except we’ll be on a blanket. Outside. We’ll talk and I’ll probably pull down the leftover Valentine’s Day candy from the bowl on top of the fridge.
Does having the same exact lunch as always outside on a blanket require much effort?
NO!
It’s nothing.
And it will be fun!
Justine Burgess says
Pretty soon it will be Jesse’s first “first”day of school, other than for preschool. It’s strange, realizing how quickly the time goes. Thank you for the reminder to savor every moment of it.
Jill says
Thanks for the reminder. I totally bawled on my sons last day of Kindergarten. IT’s hard to believe that every milestone in our kiddies life can only come once, and then it’s gone. Wish they could stay little forever!
Sharon Garofalow says
You are such an amazing example to all of us mothers. I love your outlook and I really want to strive to look at life this way. Today is our last day of school. Our 2nd last day of school. Today we will have a neighborhood dance party. It just seems right. And I’ll even let him put Gangnam Style on repeat.
knblawson says
Awe. Thanks Sharon! I love the dance party!! (and why do little boys love Gangnam Style!??!?!?)
Dinah says
You are absolutely amazing, my friend. I love reading your posts. You keep me grounded!
Linsey K says
Thanks for the reminder of what’s important. As a homeschooling fam that finds summer sooo busy, it’s easy to get sidetracked by my own goals. The kids are happy, so that’s what’s key!
Dayna says
So good, Kara! Exactly how I feel! We are doing CFA and froyo tonight! Ps, my puddle of tears is bigger than yours! Lol!
Melissa says
This year we are just having a different summer! Yes I work, a lot, but I am off work early enough to change how the day ends. Instead of being at daycare all day, I am getting my kids early, and taking them to the pool. It is fun, they enjoy it and since we already have the passes for the summer, nothing comes out of pocket now!!!! Those little things do matter! Thanks for sharing Kara!!
Analia says
I love it! You have such great perspective on life. I definitely agree that you don’t need to spend big to make a huge impact on your kids, your life. My kids are not school age yet to have last days of school, but we do try to spice up the days with little things…hot cocoa with marshmallows, PB&J sandwiches at the beach. They are such discovering age that there everything is an adventure for them.