Back in the Saddle

 Nothing is better than watching new students bounce into school sporting shiny new duds clutching their locker combinations in one hand and their lunch money in the other.  They are so excited to see their friends and even more excited that they have exited elementary school(if they are 7th graders) or are the "top dogs"(if they are 8th graders) only a year from high school.  Both grades are extremely happy to begin a new year.  

By lunch their smiles are fading as their tummies begin to grumble and eyelids droop.  I have never understood how we can put an emphasis on healthy eating with these kids and then feed them a butt load of  carbohydrates in twenty-two minutes.  Teachers and students eat like mad men and then slowly make their ways back to the classroom praying like crazy for an end to what feels like the longest day of their lives.

I know the kids are blitzed by the end of the day because I am.  My bet is that they are crashed out napping by the time they can drop those shining backpacks and new shoes on the floor of living rooms for their parents to trip over.  How do I know this? Well, this 8th grade teacher was home at 4:00, P.J.’s donned, draped across her king sized bed by 7:00 p.m.  Supper you say? Mike took sympathy on me and whipped up some of his famous nachos.  I think I ate them…but I am not really sure.  I sure do love that man!

The kids were polite; their manners impressive.   They weathered the first day and the one that followed.  Tomorrow will put us through the first few days. It’s official…we are back in the saddle again!

Lora