Back to School

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. No, I’m not talking about Christmas, though I look forward to the Santa season each year. I’m talking about kids going back to school. If you’re a parent, you know the hidden joy you feel when your kids head back to institutions of learning for eight hours each day, rather than ransacking your house.

To be sure, it’s always a little bittersweet when they go back. Admittedly, I miss being able to call during the day to check on them, or have them with me. On the other hand, I don’t miss trying to figure out how to balance childcare every day when my wife and I both work full time (and then some) jobs. Thankfully for us, my mom has always been a big help with that.

This year Kingston is a third grader, and Ava is entering her final year of preschool. I know every parent says this, but it’s amazing to me how quickly my kids are growing up. Our experience with Kingston at Forest Hills in Danville Public Schools has been a great one, just as Ava has enjoyed the Wee Center like her brother and father before her. I’m thankful for that. As a parent, you want your kids to have the best educational opportunities possible.

So as summer comes to a close and the thin fall air creeps in, I hope all of you parents out there have a great school year with your kids. Be involved. Ask them each day what they did at school. What they had for lunch. What they are working on next. It might not seem like a lot, but it makes a big difference. The more you show them you care about their day at school, the more they will care about their day at school. And that’s good for everyone.