First Day of School
It’s the last day of summer vacation. School starts tomorrow. Dante is ready for 2nd grade. He’s been reading chapter books, kids’ magazines, Peanuts comic books and his favorite Book of Jokes. He’s been practicing piano and he is proud to say that he can play “Little Mozart” and two of Beethoven’s Symphonies (!) But, if you visualize Dante working through his piano books while I am blissfully preparing a healthy snack in the kitchen - or, for that matter, blissfully working in my studio, let me write here, as a reminder to all, that even the most talented kid needs parent involvement. LIfe is too exciting, there is so much to do, even if you never let them watch a single TV show. We have been blessed with amazing neighbors who have amazing kids our boys’ age. It’s been one big, unending play date (that we didn’t have to drive to, or plan weeks ahead!)
Evan starts Kindergarten tomorrow. He is excited and a bit nervous. Every night, he checks the days off on his “Shamu” calendar and double-checks with me every morning: “What day is it, Mama? What number?” He sits at his desk, and writes in his notebook: “1+1=2, 2+2+4, 100+100=200, 1000+1000=2000″ I told him once that Mrs. Tucker wouldn’t have much to teach him, since he’s been practicing and he took that as an extra encouragement. He started violin lessons and it amazes me how much he enjoys it, and just how serious he is about it.
Blais will miss his brothers when they are off to school. He turned two this summer. When he hears music, his little body starts moving, and if he catches anyone watching him, his goes from his “casual dancing mode” to a “performance mode “.
And as for me and Matthew, well, we both had grand plans for the summer - I was going to have not one, but two albums done by October. Instead, I learned to play tennis, discovered a few amazing music spots (and musicians) in our town, spent time with my kids and my friends, and when my Mom visited us in early July, I took every day to enjoy her. (All right, I did a few video songs and worked on a few other things)
Matthew was going to rebuild the bus. (He worked very hard on the bus - check out his log - and on several house-improvement projects in addition to booking the tours - check out the calendar.)
We watched “Pursuit of Happyness” as our summer wrap movie. It trully was an inspiration and a reminder of how blessed we are.
And… I’ve always loved working hard. Before I had kids, I was the happiest when my calendar was so full there was no room for “scribbles”. I loved the energy and the constant challenge, being creative and productive. Finding the right balance between dedicated, disciplined work - at a home studio - and a dedicated, disciplined quality time with my boys is what I struggle with.
Because as of tomorrow, I’ll have two of my children in school, experiencing the world without me. And every ambitious and industrious part of me melts away before the chance to dance and sing with Blais, to read to him as he sits in my lap, to hold his chubby little hand as we walk to town, to watch him run towards his brothers when they come home from school.
So today again, I’ll put off the work. It’s the last day of summer vacation. 
Tags: end of summer, start of school
