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 fifth grader, and Ava is entering first grade. I know every parent says this, but it’s amazing to me how quickly my kids are growing up. Our experiences with Kingston and Ava at Forest Hills in Danville Public Schools has been a great one. For Kingston, this is his final year there. From kindergarten to now, the time has gone by so fast. And with major upgrades and renovations on the way there, he will be the final class to experience that school the way it has largely been for the past 90 years. Ava will reap the benefits of some exciting new features once completed.
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.