Kids are back in school

Yesterday the kids went back to school. KC gave me the guilt trip the night before by saying it was the first time I did not drop her off to first day of school... guilty mommy. To those who aren't regular readers ( why are you not, we are cool here ) I recently moved to the dayshift from working the evening shift (3pm-11pm). I love dropping off my kids to school. This is the time for me to remind them of my usual "sermon", which they tend to finish my sentences because I tend to repeat my daily reminders. Yeah, I tend to do that, see what I mean? Tend. Anyway, every parent should talk to their kids. Not that I am an expert in parenting ( heck, I am not even close), I just think that it is the easiest way to connect. When are you going to talk to them? When they are in trouble? When they seem to tune you out? There will be a time where even as parents you can't dictate what you want--- even if it's for their own good. So I do take advantage of our 10 minute drive to school to impart some good values to them or even to just ask them who sang whatever is playing on the radio. I feel that I need to read, watch and listen to the same things my kids are engaged in--- so I can relate and therefore they feel they can easily connect to me. I read all the books they have been reading lately like that kid Percy Jackson- reintroduced myself to Greek and Egyptian mythology so I can discuss topics they are into right now . Things to torture myself, ha? What Greek, Roman and Egyptian mythology? My golly wowzaaa!

My kids are now 8, 5, and 3rd grade respectively and I feel I need to be more focused with them now. Middle school is tough and I can only imagine the peer pressure KC and Chris go through. I want it to be a little better by being there and just making myself available. You know, letting them know they have someone to run to and someone to listen to their young problems, because little we may think of it, to middle schoolers, it's the end of the world.

So I spent a good 15-20 minutes talking to them of things I expect from them this school year. I told Chris to be more proactive and be more involved with school activities. I emphasized that academic achievement is not the only important thing he needed to succeed in life-- that he needs to be more aware of society, that social contribution is as important as academic learning to be a rounded citizen. Also I told him to be more organized and locking himself in the bedroom is a no-no. He needs to spend time with his brother and sister and to be a big brother and not so grouchy to them .

To KC I reaffirmed my happiness with her leadership in school. I told her I want her to be more focused on her mathematics this year because she seems to fall behind. I asked her to be honest with me and to know I am always there If she needs someone to talk to and that she need not give in to peer pressure and that she is beautiful and a wonderful person and to value who she is.

Josh is such a good student I can't seem to know what to tell him but last night I told him to be more giving and not a braggart. I told him to read more and also to be a big boy and not cry when someone teases him.

As you can see, I covered a whole lot of issues. I don't really outline anything when I talk to my kids, what's important to me is they know I am there for them. I made sure they know I make time for them.

Here are the notes I left them yesterday morning--