Back to School

Tomorrow marks the first day of school for Jack. It is a weird day. It is the first day of many firsts in 5th grade, and it sort of marks the beginning of fall (well, at least fall activities). I am looking forward to getting back into a routine, but am sad to see summer pass. We enjoyed our summer so much and while there are pros to going back to school and getting in a routine, I will miss the lazy days of summer.

Jack had the best summer. I don't think he knows how lucky he is. Jack's summer consisted of our family trip to Florida, he went to New Life Ranch, Camp Loughridge, Vacation Bible School, Golf camp at Holland Hall, golf clinics all summer, trips to OKC and Norman to visit grandparents, a trip to the lake, a trip with Merv, Jan and the Burr clan to Sea Island, Georgia, Great Wolf Lodge and more. Jack knows how to pack in the fun over a 10 week period.

But throughout all the fun, I have also seen Jack grow this summer. He is a great big brother to Luke and Emma. Always willing to entertain them outside, build another train track or play kitchen with them upstairs. His fears seem much more in control as he gets older, which is a huge answer to prayer. Of course he still has some, but even then, he has learned to handle them better (as we all are, he is a work in progress). We are so proud of him for this. He has also grown! I can't believe how tall he is getting and he has outgrown all his clothes and shoes from last school year. I know the growing isn't going to stop and the independence is just going to keep coming. I hope that as he gets older, he sees me as a friend and parent, rather than just a parent. I look forward to all the fun things we will get to do in the next few years but wonder--where is the little boy who did the 3 Piggy Opera?

My niece is leaving for college tomorrow and it reminds me how fast the time goes by. It won't be long and Jack will be driving and then heading off to college himself. So, on the days we are clashing or I am annoying him, I try to remind myself that it is just a season of life and he is trying to grow up and be teenager. I need to remember to let him usurp that control over his own life and just try to enjoy all this time, because it is going to fly by. I married Scott when Jack was 4--that is 8 years I've been around and only about 8 until he goes to college. How weird is that? When I think how fast this 8 years has gone by, it makes me realize how quickly the next 8 will go too. Now I know what my Mom meant when she kept telling me to slow down and not grow up so fast.