Back to School

The natives went back to school this morning. I debated putting up these photos on the web because it has more personal information than Gatherer typically likes to share on the interwebs, but after some careful debate I decided it was okay. We were a bit nervous on this one as Native 2 is riding the bus to and from for the first time. We have to do drop-off and pick-up for Native 1 because he is in a special program in our county. I don't refer to them as the Natives so you all don't know their names (I mean it's right in the picture if you don't know them). It has just become a running gag at this point.

Back to school went off without a hitch. Natives got up with out too much complaining. They ate breakfast in a reasonable amount of time, they got dressed on their own, and they actually even went out for pictures when I asked. Native 2 had no desire to do a silly photo, he's self conscious like me (poor kid) but Native 1 is silly and kind like his father and loves the opportunity to ham it up. We all waited with Native 2 as long as we could but then I needed to drop Native 1 off at his school and head into the office for a few meetings. It has been a little strange being in the office but one virtual meeting turned into an in person meeting, I had a confidential student meeting that I didn't have to maneuver to a space to ensure privacy, and it was nice to take a little walk around campus and see students. Definitely much more quiet than it would have been on the day before class on a normal year.

I'm excited to hear how the Natives enjoyed their first day back. They've been in summer camp so they haven't been insolated but there's been little structure so its been a veritable Lord of the Flies situation. I have an event at work that means I won't be able to pick up Native 1 or be there when Native 2 hops off the bus and I have so so much guilt. Day one and I'm already not living up to my work/life balance promise. Kudos to Hunter for stepping up to the plate to handle it though. We decided to be firm in our schedules so that we wouldn't need before or after school care and I'm glad we made the choice. It will force me to say tomorrow is another day because there is always more work to do. I missed the wildlife and I probably talked more to Hunter via text than I do in person. It's been a crazy year and a half and I'm hoping that today marks something a little more normal. I hope that the greatest challenge I have to face is figuring out how to get two tiny humans to do their homework and eat their dinner and I don't have explain crazy things like global pandemics or things I can't even imagine.