School Daze – for parents

Summer has officially ended. But before you pull your jackets out of storage, I should clarify:

School has started again. While not exactly the signal for cooler weather, it does represent the end of carefree days of vacations, swimming and fishing–replaced with structure and schedules (or schedules and chaos). If parents thought they were busy during summer, they will soon experience the crunch of juggling jobs and homework.

Did I mention that homework is also for the parents? My daughter had 25 pages of “mandatory” school forms to complete and sign for each of her two boys.

To further clarify: Slow down! We all probably drive too fast, especially on our North Valley rural roads. But the kids are out walking, sometimes in the crosswalks that we forgot existed. And they are out in the heat, itself a distraction, many hunched over with super‑sized backpacks weighing them down–another subject, but we have to fight for the health of our kids’ spines, backs and shoulders. Some schools have gotten cheap (I hate to be so bold) and eliminated lockers. Or perhaps lockers represent too much liability for schools. Hey, but what about our children’s backs? Try walking around with a history, English, science and math book plus assorted folders strapped on your back. Plus, try it in 100‑plus degree heat!

I don’t dare discuss gender differences, but I wish my grandsons would talk more like girls (please don’t tell them I’ve said this) about the particulars of their first week of school. My neighbors and friends with girls get all of the details about the new schools, teachers, activities and even what is served for lunch. When I ask my grandsons about their first day of school, the responses range from “OK” to “The food could be better.” Yet, if I ask them which fishing bait is best for sea bass, there is a huge discussion of proper lures, debates over anchovies versus clams, and on and on. Yes, they can share when they want to.

Can you feel the electricity in the air? (No, not the monsoons). Excitement fills the halls of every school and hope sits in every classroom. Another school year means that children will be encouraged to try something new, test the limits of their curious minds, find an answer to the most difficult of questions and realize that school is a really cool experience. Budding athletes, scientists, writers and musicians will find a new role model as teachers, parents and coaches help them gain confidence and explore new ideas.

Many parents will dutifully volunteer to make the school year’s numerous activities go smoothly. There are open houses, sporting events, fund‑raisers, music festivals, parties and field trips to organize. You might even be asked to stand in front of a group of kids and tell them what you do for a living–you know, explain to those young, curious and very clever minds how you love your work, that it matters, and that you make a difference in the world.

Hey, I’m not being funny here. Kids look up to us and want to hear that the choices we’ve made still make sense–which means they really need assurance that school counts, that the big kids (us) can still have fun and know how to use all of that incredible knowledge we attained through school in meaningful, responsible ways.

I have more to say, but I better go ... I want to figure out the meaning of my life before my grandsons, Kevin and Connor, ask me to recite it to their classmates.