Today is Buddy’s first day of third grade.
And as I wake up this morning in Portland, Oregon, I am missing it.
In fact, given the time zone difference, I’ve already missed that moment of him boarding the bus on his way to third grade.
I haven’t experienced one of these gut-wrenching working mom guilt moments in awhile. I initially shrugged off the unfortunate timing of what I know will be a fantastic work conference, figuring Buddy wouldn’t care that I wasn’t there on that first day. I mean, he said as much. This is old hat for him, and nowadays he just hops on that bus without a second wave or look at us.
But while he may not care that I wasn’t there, I know I am missing it. And not only am I missing it, I am just so far away from him right now. And it makes me profoundly sad.
Because, hello, third grade? How did that happen?
Yet I take comfort in the fact that my confident, social butterfly of a son will have a fantastic first day, not because of who put him on the bus, but because of the friends he gets to see after a long summer. And the new classroom to explore. And a new teacher to meet.
So instead of moping, I spent yesterday stocking Buddy’s backpack with all the school supplies I picked up the last few weeks and packing a snack with a special note and laying out the clothes for the week, including the “first day of school” outfit, which I’m sure he will moan and groan about (well, at least I won’t be there to hear him complain about.)
And, of course, my husband is totally on top of everything else, from taking that oh-so-important “First Day of Third Grade” photo on the front step to assembling lunches.
Although packing lunches is up there on the household tasks I least like, one thing that has definitely helped alleviate some of my lunch-making angst has been plastic bento boxes.
Maybe it’s the Type A in me, but I loooove having different compartments for all the various lunch components, and it also forces me to think beyond a sandwich in a plastic baggie and a bag of chips for lunch.
Here’s a typical lunch for Buddy and Mimi:
- Soy nut butter (for Buddy)/peanut butter (for Mimi) and honey sandwich (on bread, mini bagels, or rice cakes) OR cheese and crackers (with turkey, for Mimi)
- Side of cherry tomatoes or strawberries or blueberries
- Side of Pirates Booty/animal crackers or a Stonyfield Farms YoKids Squeezers, cup, sMOOthie, or one of their new YoKids Squeeze pouches, which are a little more substantial than the yogurt tube.
Even though it will be bittersweet to hear about the first day secondhand, I know I’ll be fine. I will enjoy having a hotel room to myself and peaceful meals and an adventure in a new city. And I will think about special ways to celebrate the first week of school when I get home.
But trust me when I say 5pm PST — my first chance to FaceTime with Buddy –cannot come fast enough
Disclaimer: As a Stonyfield Yo-Getter, I sometimes receive free product and/or compensation. However, my opinions are entirely my own.
Rachel t says
Have a good time out here on the West! Portland is a great city!