First day of school

I ran into an old friend at the parent night. We chatted for an hour afterwards in the parking lot. Catching up on the news of our children. Tom called looking for dinner which finally sent me scurrying home with Taco Time for everyone.

Tom lectured Trevor and sent him to bed at 8:15 in preparation of the first day. It will be a long day for Trevor with football after school. By the time I went in to say goodnight to Trevor at 8:30 pm he was already asleep. I had wanted him to brush and floss before bed to get a really good job done for picture day, since we hadn't been to the dentist yet and are due for a cleaning, all of us. Trevor was asleep within minutes. Riley had his clothes picked out and his teeth sparkling clean before bed.

Trevor woke up his usual cranky morning self. Trevor is like his father in the morning. There are chores to do and things to get done in a short amount of time. He does not operate well at a fast pace. He had hoarded laundry again in his room so I told Trevor he needed to start a load of laundry. He told me he was eating breakfast first. I told him he needed to start the load before he eats breakfast so it will be going while he eats, efficiency of time management. He kicked the pile of laundry I had tossed down the stairs, lost his balance and put his hand through the big beautiful picture window in the living room shattering the inner pain. He didn't cut himself. He was stunned by what he had done. I just picked up the phone and called his father. I didn't want Tom coming home and freaking at the broken window. I also wanted Trevor's father to have words with the boy. I didn't want to yell at him the first day of school. He had already broken a window because I told him to do laundry before eating. We were already off to a bad start with a broken window and laundry arguments.

Trevor was very obliging and subdued as I told him to clean it up and start the laundry.

I put a leash on the dog and went for a walk. I was going to walk up to the bus stop with Riley, but Riley asked me not to go with him. He didn't want to hang with his mother, though he did give me a hug in the privacy of our driveway. We left Trevor to clean up the glass. I didn't want to watch. I had handed him gloves so he wouldn't cut himself, and located the dust pan and broom for him. He did an adequate job. I finished cleaning up the glass after my walk.

Trevor passed me on the street, I asked if he had remembered his shorts for football. He had not. He raced back to the house and got them. He arrived at the bus stop in time to catch his breath before the bus arrived. A dozen teenagers were waiting for the bus, middle and high school students. I wish he had been able to get out there earlier so he could have introduced Riley and himself to everyone. Riley will be too reserved and shy to introduce himself, even though he had gone out a good ten minutes earlier. Trevor would have chatted with who ever was willing to talk.

I had to see the humor of the broken window. Just last night my old friend had asked if Trevor was still clumsy. I had said he was growing into himself. Playing football was good for him and his balance. Well, Trevor is still growing and he is still the bull in the china shop. I am contemplating the cost of tempered glass for my beautiful big windows. Of course the one that broke is not the one with the broken seal that needs replacing, but maybe we can get a deal with now needing four windows replaced. Three with bad seals and one for broken glass.

I hope the first day goes well for the boys. Riley has a hard load with honors classes and Spanish
for the first time. I will see if I can borrow some of my Dad's fun reading books in Spanish from my sister. Dad had all the Harry Potter series in Spanish. Riley, once he gets some Spanish under his belt might like to hone his skills trying to read them in Spanish.

Trevor has swim conditioning in the afternoon. I remember his second grade teacher saying the students were more focused and alert after swim class. I can only hope it helps Trevor focus. Trevor has math, science, English, concert band, computers, and swimming, not in that order, but a lot of classes to keep up in so he can play football.

Riley will also need to join an extra curricular activity as part of the graduation requirements. The school expects you to be involved in a club of some sort. I was sad Kiwanis is not in the school. Trevor enjoyed the volunteer opportunities they offered. I wonder if Riley can work in the concessions for his required volunteer hours. Boosters runs the concessions stands. The money earned goes back into the programs that the volunteers request.

I worked the Varsity game concessions. Trevor sold programs and made the most money of all the boys selling football programs. I told him he should donate the tips also to the program and he did. Raising teenage boys is so difficult. It is such a balancing act. I don't naturally speak the testosterone language. I just hope this house can survive us. Have a good first day of school.