So...I think the first day of school was something of a shock to the system for us all. We had our back-to-school meeting, wherein I detailed the different things we'd be doing this year, and passed out their books (those we aren't still waiting for, someone remind me next year that ordering curricula ON Labor Day is prolly not all that effective, please?), and set to work.
Max flopped into his chosen position on the couch, and immediately started asking what he had to do that day.
"Well...start with grammar. You know, like EVERY OTHER DAY ALWAYS."
"Yeah, fine, but what then?"
"Um. Math? Or you could do spelling. Or history next."
"I HAVE TO DO IT ALL?"
"...?..."
"...!..."
He sort of explained that he knew we were "starting," he just didn't realize we were "START starting" right away like that. Sorry to disappoint, dear heart.
So he set to work on ALL the unreasonable expectations, and Sophia positioned herself next to him, and waited for the fun. Max is always fun.
Sadly, this day he was irrationally focusing on his books and papers, and ignoring the little package of princessy goodness next to him. To help him correct this, she proceeded to place her foot right in the middle of whatever page he looked at.
"Sophia! Can you STOP THAT?" he finally said, exasperated.
"NO, YOU stop that NOT PLAY WITH ME!" she bellowed back, and tipped a stack of his books to the floor. So yes. I guess Sophia's educational goals this year are going to start with, "not be a big demanding jerk when my brothers are working." That should be simple.
Raphael grabbed his stack of work and trotted right off to start. He always likes a good beginning, and still gets that old contact high off new books and pencils and possibilities. I predict a bored meltdown no later than Thursday, but hey! For today it was lovely.
However, when he headed over to his desk, we realized that it wasn't there. Five years ago Clay built these lovely desks that fold flat against the wall (because we have 6.3 children per square foot of space in this house, or something like that). But this summer Clay painted, and when he did he removed Tre's desk (no longer used) and Raphael's desk. Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure we all talked about it and decided he could do his work at the table...but none of us remembered that this morning, when we stood around, blinking at the blank wall.
But Happy Raphi is very adaptable, and he took himself right over to the table and got to work. Soon he was bringing me finished pages to be checked, and then Max was right behind him. They kept flopping down their books next to me and I swear to you, after about the third item, I thought, WHY ARE THEY BUGGING ME WITH THIS?
Because yes, that's right. I seem to have forgotten that the kids aren't the only ones involved with this educational venture. Nice, Kira. Very sharp.
But we all pulled it together, and in the end the work got done, the corrections got made, and all small feet were removed from offending school books. Let the learning begin.