Back to School

So, I"m going to take a break from trying to play "catchup" for the last few months to write down what we did for Back to School this year.  I've been REALLY stressed (probably far overly so) about sending my kids to school.  I like control, and sending them off to school lessens the control I have over their lives and increases the influence that others have.  Yes, I know that too much control is a really bad thing and that they NEED to go out on their own and I NEED to back off (a lot sometimes), but it does not come naturally to me!  I worry about who those "others" might be and what my sweet children might learn from them.  So, I put a lot of thought into creating Back to School traditions.  I wanted things that were fun.  I wanted things that were meaningful.  And most of all, I wanted things that would teach them good values and instill a sense of belonging (to the Marsh family) in my children.

I searched online and on pinterest for a few weeks and found a lot of great ideas.  I sort of pieced them all together and here is what we came up with:

A week or two before:

I took them each shopping for new school clothes.  We made a fun date out of it and got lunch and / or a treat too:

Samantha was really excited about all her fun date!

That is a BIG piece of pizza!

Still working!

The results of our trip

On our way to the mall!

Dancing in his new pants in the dressing room....

More dressing room fun....

The results of the the boy's trip...

Sunday Night:

First, we had a fashion show were they each got to show us a couple of their favorite new school outfits.  We taped it....and we'll put it all together (each year) in a video for them when they graduation.

Then, we read them a letter that Cory and I wrote to them.  It teaches about four values that we felt were important to remember while at school.  They are obviously a little young to REALLY get everything, but we will read the same letter every year.  We also gave them a few charms (on a keychain that is now on their backpacks) to help them remember important points:

(1)  Be Kind and Help Others (Smiley face charm):  Do all you can to make others happy.  If you see someone who is sad, help them.  If someone is being teased, be their friend.  Make others laugh.  Care about them.
(2)  Learn (Book Charm): The #1 reason you are at school is to learn and progress academically.  Focus and take advantage of the free education that is being offered
(3)  Be Tough & Brave: There will be lots of hard things that you have to do at school.  Many will be scary.  Follow the example of the stripling warriors (arrow charm) - their bravery came b/c they prayed (prayer charm) to God for help.  If you do the same, you can have courage!
(4) Stand up for the right. (CTR Charm)  Not everyone will have the same rules as the Marsh Family (M Charm).  That is okay.  You can still be their friend.  But if they do things that make you feel bad inside, then don't do those things with them.  Walk away.  Do things with your friends that help you feel good inside...things that help you feel the Holy Ghost.

After reading the letter and giving them all their charms, Cory gave them all Father's Blessings.  It was such a sweet experience.  When Noah sat in the chair, before Cory started the blessing, he said: "I feel all good inside already b/c of the spirit.  I'm excited."  Cory got all choked up and proceeded to give him (and Micah and Samantha) beautiful blessings.

Monday:

Around lunch time, we went to their favorite Summer hangout one last time (this year they chose the Thanksgiving Point Farms) and then we went to get slurpees. 

We had a "reading party"  Everyone chose their favorite 2-3 books, we made chocolate milk and drank that while we read all the stories together.

We had a fun back to school themed dinner.

 

We ate Nachos (simple and everyone loves them).  They each got some "medicine" for school (tic : 

 and a fun pencil (Rolos and a Hershey kiss):

 

For FHE, we had a quick review of what their charms meant.  We sang "Choose the Right"  We talked about the scripture "I can do all things through Christ."  We put each of our four values on "flags" on pencils and added the flags and our scripture to the shelf in our living room with all our family pictures:

Then, we weighed (actually....I still haven't weighed them...we couldn't find our scale that night) and measured each of them (marked their heights in the garage) and had them each fill out some fun "My first day of school" forms:

Then, we read "The Kissing Hand" and put them to bed!

Tuesday:

We had their favorite breakfast: Scones.  And we took fun pictures of them out on the porch:

And a few other random back to school photos:

The boy's back to school night:

Samantha's Back to School Open House:

  


The boy's first day / picture with their teacher, Mrs Cowley:

Kindergarten playground

Their Classroom door....just a BIT nervous!

Lining up when the bell rang

Cute teacher....principle in the shirt and tie

 Samantha's first day with her teacher "Teacher Denise"

And then just a few cute stories...

So, each day when the boys get home from school (at 10:45 am), I've had a snack ready for them and we talk about how their day was.  I ask them what the best and worst parts were and we talk about the 4 values (were you brave today?  What did you learn today?  Did you make anyone smile today?  Did you CTR today?).  Most times it is like pulling teeth to get them to talk at all, but I figure it is easier to get them into the habit now than it will be 10 years from now.  So, we do it.

On the 2nd day of school, we talked fo r5-10 minutes.  Then Micah got all nervous....he was fidgeting and just really struggling.  He said, "Mom, I have to tell you something really bad.  Today, at my table two boys did something that made me have that bad feeling in my heart that you talked about.  It made me really sad and I didn't know what to do."

I said, "Oh, Micah....thank you so much for having the courage to tell me.  What happened?  What were they doing?"

Micah:  "They were talking and laughing about Captain Underpants."

It was all I could do to keep a strait face and take him seriously (but I did!).  And we talked about it for a bit.  And then he went downstairs and I busted up laughing and then I busted a tear b/c I LOVE that boy and his deep desire to be obedient so SO much.

A day or two later, Noah came home SUPER happy and excited.  He said "MOM, the flags we made WORK!"  I asked what he meant and he told me that a little girl named Chole was sitting all by herself at recess.  He thought of our flag that said "Be nice and help others"  So, he went over to her and told her his name and asked her name.  He then asked if she wanted to play.  She said "No, I only play with girls."   Ha!  I was afraid he'd be disappointed.  But he just said "But that was okay b/c it still made me have that happy feeling in my heart."

I SERIOUSLY love my kiddos!

And Samantha loves preschool.  I don't think I've EVER seen her so happy or so in her element.  She gets to cut and glue and draw and paint and color EVERY day at school!  She sings us all the songs she is learning.  She is a LOT more talkative about it than the boys are!

Ok...so this is what I mean by pulling teeth to get them to talk:

Me: Micah, what was the hardest part of school today
Micah: I don't know
Me:  Well did anything make you sad?
Micah: Yes
Me: Oh, what was that?
Micah: I don't know
Me: Are you sure?  Can't you remember what made you sad?
Micah: Well, Courtney wouldn't share with me.
Me: Oh?  Why not?
Micah: Cause I took the crayons from her before she was done.
Me: So, were you sharing with her?
Micah: I don't know
Me: What did she say when you took the crayons?
Micah: I don't know
Me: I'm pretty sure she said something
Micah: Yeah, she was mad.  She said "I'M NOT DONE" really loud
Me: Is that why you were sad?
Micah: Yeah
Me: So waht did you do?
Micah: I don't know
Me:  Did you give the crayons back?
Micah: Yeah, but then I didn't have any b/c Courtney wouldn't share
Me: So did you ever get any crayons to color with?
Micah: Yeah
Me: How?
Micah: I don't know
Me: Did you teacher help you?
Micah: I tried to find her but I couldn't.  Then I found her after a long time in the closet.
Me: And you told her you needed crayons?
Micah: Yes
Me: What did she do?
Micah: I don't know
Me: Did she help you?
Micah: I don't know
Me: Did she talk to Courtney?
Micah: I don't know
Me: Did she teach you how to share?
Micah: I don't know
Me: Were you crying?
Micah: I don't knwo
Me: Did she give you a hug?
Micah: I don't know
Me: Okay, Micah, thanks for talking to me and telling me about that.  Go play with Noah.