Saturday, August 27, 2011

perfect day

fourth grader

It's been an exhausting six weeks for Team Lawson. Even good things can wear you out, don't you know? We went from a 2 1/2 week road trip directly to back to school with less than 12 hours between them. After a crazy-busy week of meetings, bad news, lesson planning, classroom prepping, more meetings, and life-altering changes, school started.

If you want to know what the first two weeks of school feels like to an elementary school teacher, imagine the third or fourth month after becoming a mom. You are still delighted and slightly giddy. Still tired, but not dangerously so. That's the closest I can come to describing how very, very exciting, delighting, and exhausting these first weeks of school are each year. Every year.

I told a group of teacher friends the other day that back to school was like labor and delivery. God doesn't let us remember how truly difficult it is or no one would do it more than once. They all laughed. And agreed.

Today is the first quiet day we've had in seven and a half weeks. The first day without a single obligation. How to spend such a gift?

1. wake up when your body wakes you
2. go back to bed - there's no rush
3. eat a late, lingering breakfast with your love
4. go outside and play with the dogs
5. come in, have a cold Coke in an icy glass
6. curl up under the ceiling fan and read - all day long

Perfect day.

Photo above is my sweet baby on her first day of school.

22 comments:

Pamela said...

Sounds like a delightful day that has been completely earned! I love how you compared back to school to labor and delivery.

Scrappy Grams said...

love your description! I always had a sore throat the first two weeks of school. your day sounds devine!

Suz said...

ah so true wise woman

Joanna said...

Oooh I'm liking your plans for today, enjoy!

x

Anonymous said...

I love you I love your postings and all your pins on Pinterest.
Love Jeanne

Mac n' Janet said...

I remember it well, a good memory, but oh was I ready to retire!

Laura said...

Glad you have a day to recharge!! I get crazy if I don't have one a week so I can only imagine how much you need it. Sloane looks so beautiful in this picture!

Tracy said...

Oh, that does sound like a very good day. I might have to splurge on a Coke soon--haven't had one in ages. But we did have a glass of cool white wine at dinner today...so guess I got a treat. ;o) Enjoy your slow day...drink up every drop. LOVING thi photo of Miss Sloane... Goodness how grown up she is looking these days...*sigh*... Happy Days ((HUGS))

Marilyn Miller said...

That does sound like a perfect day, but mine would have to be Pepsi. Just laughing! I hope you have a totally delightful school year.

Mrs. E said...

Wow! You capture the first days perfectly. (And I teach HS!) Sloane is just beautiful--that smattering of freckles and those adorable glasses. Hope you both have a great year!

Jennifer Richardson said...

be gentle with yourself
(as all new mamas must be:))
...hope this school year
is the sweetest adventure
so far!
-Jennifer

Debby said...

She's so pretty. Yes, I agree with your words and I taught pre-school and latch key programs. You had them all day. Hope your year is a good one.

ELK said...

you describe it perfectly !! what a wonderful photo of you growing girl!!

Amy said...

Sounds like a perfect day off ... and here's praying your week progresses on the wings of angels!

Meri said...

Have a wonderful year of learning and laughter, my friend.

Unknown said...

Your perfect day sounds just perfect!

S. Etole said...

What a delightful daughter you have ... her words about the book were perfect!

spread your wings said...

great description. your day of quiet sounds perfect
wonderful portrait - Sloan is such a beautiful young girl.

Georgianna said...

So very glad you had this perfect day, so well deserved. And there will be many more!

xo – g

Jeanie said...

OH, yes -- a perfect day. Make it last -- never know how soon the next will come. (Sloane is simply lovely!))

Deanna Bland Hiott PhD, MSN, RN said...

Love the pictures! Sloane is beautiful; I just love that picture of her. Good luck with school; perfect analogy ;)
D

Jaime said...

I smiled through this entire post. I had a day almost exactly like that today... I am up at my favourite beach for 3 days before I go back to teaching on Monday. School started here this week (which I think is a month later than you). I am looking forward to getting back into a normal routine. It has been an absolutely abnormal August! I'm so excited about fall. :)

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