Not Just Another New School Year!

Every last day of school, I know in the back of my mind that the "next" school year is looming right around the corner. I am on "Team LOVE summer vacation". Strangely enough, there is another Team out there called "Team GET back TO school". But for me, I soak in the almost three months of not fighting with kids to get up, go to sleep, do their homework, or brush their hair. I enjoy not having to worry about getting FIVE lunchboxes ready, or making sure I have all pieces of uniforms ready to go, or having to worry about classroom drama or lost school papers. I LOVE the ease of getting up when they are awake, going to the pool, and wearing flip flops every single day. I love sprinklers in the backyard, trips to the snocone stand and most of all, I love daylight hours before I wake until just about the time I am ready to call it a day. But, as they say, all good things must come to an end.

The end of summer 2010 had a slightly different feel to it, however. This coming school year will not only be all the bad things that I described above, but also full of new and exciting things! I welcomed this new school year with sadness AND excitement.

Four of my children will continue to go to Immaculate Heart of Mary School. Sadly, a lot of families, and a lot of my friends children have decided to go to a different school this year, for reasons that have not been made known to me, and that is OK. They will be sorely missed, but I wish them all the luck in the world. However, I will say that I am so glad that my children are returning to this school. Having had a St. Louis City Public School experience, I can tell you that there is a LOT to be said about IHM. For our family, I love being able to walk to school. I LOVE knowing so many families there. I LOVE that it isn't such a big school. I LOVE that talking about GOD is encouraged and not against the law. I LOVE Mrs. Zambo, lol. I love the "Village" there that helps me with my children. Yes, there are plenty of things that could benefit from change. But at this time, as long as we are able to afford to continue to send our kids there, I thank the Lord. It is going to be a great year. I KNOW IT!

Now, the biggest excitement of this year is the school change for Julianne. A miracle has happened, and we are able to send this wonderful child to this fantastic school, Miriam School. After being in a classroom of 30 children for the past two years, she is now in a classroom with 9 children. NINE children who share the same struggles as she has. She is welcomed every morning with hugs and "Hello Julianne"'s. She gets to take breaks from learning to bounce on bouncy balls, dive into the ball pit, do ALL kinds of OT things. When I pick her up, she is chewing gum, and this first week, has been exhausted! This school is a dream come true. I've said it 1000 times, but I just know she is going to blossom here. This would not be possible if it weren't for some great people in this world, who believe in Julianne, and trust that she is going to be as great one day, as I know she will be.

So....here we go. School year of 10/11. I had my boy start Kindergarten. My baby baby started preschool. My oldest started 6th grade, and my sweet middle child started 4th. And Julianne...well she is officially "ungraded", and I LOVE that.