The kids went back to school last week, returning to in-person learning after 18 months at home. We are still very much in the middle of a pandemic, and it's a confusing time with the Delta variant causing a surge and children under 12 not being eligible for the COVID vaccine yet. Public health metrics in our country are currently showing a higher rate of community spread, more positive cases, and more hospitalizations than last summer. There is no remote learning option through the kids' home schools this fall, so I'm thankful that our school district is requiring masking (and I'm sad that it's such a contentious issue in many states/areas). It's disheartening to live in a time of prolific misinformation, where people have chosen to ignore public health guidelines and renounce science. However, I am SO proud of the choices that our family has made over the past 18 months. Mark and I have consistently tried to model positivity and flexibility in front of our children, and have made every decision based on keeping our community, the people we love, and our family safe. We know that by the kids returning to school, we lose control over many of these factors, but we pray that we will have the wisdom to make the right choices moving forward. We have had this amazing gift of 18 months together at home, which allowed for a very special and unique season for the 4 of us. The pandemic also caused us to intentionally pause and think about how and where we want to devote our time & talents in the future. Mark is still working from home, which is the single biggest blessing of COVID for our family. This has changed so many parts of our daily routine for the better, and I can not put into words how transformative this work shift has been for us. As L&L begin their new school year, our wish for them is that they continue to be happy, healthy, and thriving. They have adapted beautifully to so many changes in the past year and a half, and we are blessed with extraordinary children who have made the best of an unprecedented situation.
Here are our back to school pics- 2021 Edition:
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| 8th grader! |
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| 5th grader! |
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| Capturing what they will look like masked at school. |
The next silly, candid picture is my favorite Back-to-School shot, as it captures the love among these three siblings. Millie is literally jumping for joy as Leah is smothering her with a hug, and Luke is grinning with glee. Poor Millie is not going to know what to do this year while her favorite playmates are gone all day at school:
Both kids had Open House to meet their teachers and see their classrooms the week before school started. As Mark, Leah, and I walked into Oak Ridge Elementary for our last Open House ever (and for the first time since March 2020), I got all choked up. So many familiar faces of staff/teachers/administrators greeted us by name, gave us hugs, and we could feel their smiles behind the masks. This precious school is so, so dear to us, and our return felt like coming home.
It's going to be a different kind of school year for the elementary students, as there won't be field trips, they can't eat lunch in the cafeteria or see other classes at recess. Graduation is not able to be planned at this time, there's no Father-Daughter Dance, and they will be sitting at their desk all day wearing masks. The rhythm of the school year is going to be different for me, too. As of now, parents are not allowed in the building all year due to COVID protocols, so I won't be giving tours to incoming families, tutoring students weekly, or hosting class parties/events as Room Mom. But it's all ok, because I've decided that as long as Leah gets to go back and have her final year at ORES, it's a win. And so we are choosing to be grateful and focus on the bright side of this crazy time.
Luke attended his last middle school Open House, which seems crazy since he hasn't had a "normal" year of middle school yet. After going to school for 2/3 of his 6th grade year, Luke completely missed 7th grade in-person learning, and here we are, at the beginning of 8th grade. It's remarkable how small the 6th graders look, and how enormous my 6+ foot tall son seems:
Luke's size does allow him to assimilate right into his newest passion: High School Marching Band. Our tuba dude was invited to play the sousaphone with Northwest Guilford Viking Band, and is beginning an exciting new chapter this fall. Our high school's band has won state and national awards and has an excellent reputation. The Marching Vikings average 150 members strong each season, and play at Friday night home football games and compete in regional competitions on most Saturdays in the fall. Due to the high caliber of the program, rehearsals are rigorous, and Luke attended Band Camp for 3 weeks this summer before school started. These kids marched in 95 degree weather for 8 hours/day to learn their routine. When they gave their Friends and Family Performance at the conclusion of camp, I was speechless. These kids were GOOD, and their director is absolutely amazing. Luke's back to school routine involves him staying after school for marching band practice 3 days/week, and he doesn't get home until after 8 p.m. They are long days for an 8th grader, but he loves it so much, and we are thrilled that Luke has this opportunity this year:
One more back to school note: One week before school started, Luke got braces. Here's the last photo of him pre-braces (taken by the orthodontist). Luke's goal is to have them off in 2 years, right before 10th grade starts, and he handled the initial discomfort like a champ. I think the multiple milkshakes and ice cream treats in the first couple of days after getting his braces helped his mood!
On the first morning that the kids were at school, Millie and I walked at the Town Park and the view was breathtakingly beautiful. I feel like God was giving me peace with this idyllic scene. As we head into an unknown school year, I needed that reassurance and am comforted to remember that He is in control, always.
