Since around the middle of July I've started seeing Back to School signs in the stores, and my daughter sort of cringed every time I pointed to one and reminded her about the inevitable. It seems kind of cruel on my part, and it reminds me of that old Staples commercial. Some of you may remember it: a father happily throws all the school supplies in the shopping cart as his kids look very sad while Andy Williams sings "It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year." Oddly enough, I know my daughter is going back to school in about a week and I don’t feel all that happy.
I remember my own childhood summers as blissful times. My parents had a beach house in a place called Breezy Point, and it was so close to the city and yet seemed to be a zillion miles away. It was a safe little enclave where people didn’t lock doors, children ran barefoot all summer long, and the smell of barbecues filled the air every evening from June until September.
I can recall looking at the calendar on the wall in the kitchen as my Mom worked around the room, and I kept smiling and she’d ask why, and it was because "July" was in big letters at the top and that meant two months of no school. I was even happy when the page was turned to August, but like every kid I dreaded when Mom turned it again and I saw "September" splashed across the top. The funny thing was, Mom never seemed happy about us going back to school, and I always appreciated that.
My daughter now faces a similar situation. After a summer of freedom, she has no desire to return to school. I hate to see her go back because she has been such a great companion. Now eight years old, she can help us with the baby (eight months old) and also do little chores around the house. She also fancies herself a writer and has been writing "books" all summer. These books involve little girls, most of whom resemble all her friends, but the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Article comments
1 - Mary K. Williams
Beautiful Victor. And just an FYI, I've never, ever begrudged the teachers summers off. Teaching is one of the hardest and most important jobs out there. I've only taught a little, a couple years of Sunday School, and some after school karate sessions - none of it I was very good at. Teachers are great. Good teachers are treasures. And I also agree about the time off - kids need it (and so do us parents) Nice job Vic.