This week marks the official beginning of the school year for all three Patterson children. Our oldest son James has been an official senior for about two weeks now. Our daughter Elsie walked into the school as a first-year high schooler this week. And our youngest son Jase begins his final year as an elementary student.
James gave me a quick goodbye and hug as he drove his vehicle to the county high school. Elsie shouted goodbye as she exited the car, headed into the high school building of Benton Academy. So, that left Jase…my little man cub as being the sole kid who has a “Meet the Teacher” morning as a sixth grader.
I couldn’t help but grin as I walked into Jase’s classroom, ready to unload his bookbag and go over his classroom rules with his new teacher. I can remember a time, several years ago, when I did not get the memo that “Meet the Teacher” ended in elementary school.
It was several years ago when James began junior high school. Seventh grade arrived, and we couldn’t do much about it despite my protests that he was growing too fast.
Maybe it was a busy summer. Maybe I just didn’t get the memo…but his first day did not go according to plan.
I was totally unaware that the seventh graders would not participate in the same type of welcoming registration that the elementary students do every year. I was completely clueless to the fact that James would attend his new seven classes to meet his new teachers from 8 a.m. until noon.
Our other two children, Elsie and Jase, would merely leave their school supplies in the cubbies and meet their teachers. There was no need for them to stay more than a few minutes.
I thought James followed that same pattern.
I was wrong.
After meeting Elsie and Jase’s new teachers, my crew and I casually walked through the cafeteria on the way to the junior high and high school building. I didn’t think much about the few staff workers who kept eyeballing my family and I taking our leisurely stroll through the building.
When we entered the main building, an office worker began to escort James down the hall. I followed behind them.
“Um, they usually like the students to do this part by themselves,” the kind worker said.
“Oh, forgive me, I am not sure what they do in junior high,” I replied. “But isn’t this where we meet the teachers and get their supply lists and other information?”
“Um…no,” the lady replied. “Seventh graders attend their classes until noon today to meet their teachers and change their classes.”
Mortified…not only was James late for his first day of school…but we were just bopping on down the hall without a care in the world, totally clueless that class was in session.
I slowly backed off, gave James “the look” and made my cowardly exit with my other two children in tow.
“James is over an hour late,” Jase announced proudly in the parking lot.
“Just get in the car,” I said, under my breath. “I didn’t know what was going on.”
James played it off, and he said he got a good laugh out of it with his friends who were curious why he was running late with his entire family following him down the hall.
Picking James up at lunch went a little better. I didn’t bring up the incident and had hoped that he forgot about it.
“I think my homeroom teacher is nice,” he said. “I didn’t get to talk to her much though because we were late.”
Turning my blinker on and throwing my pride out the window, I put my sunglasses on.
“We all are adjusting to this junior high thing,” I said. “We will do much better tomorrow.”
“It’s not a junior high thing,” James smirked. “It’s school. You go to class. It’s not a new thing.”
Lesson learned, and I never made the same mistake twice. I guess the kids aren’t the only ones picking up a few lessons.
