Today is the first time in 26 years that no one in the Gisriel household will be trotting off to the first day of school, which starts today for students in Washington County. I began my teaching career in Carroll County during the 1984-1985 school year and retired from Washington County in 2004. Well, I didn't retire so much as I just stopped going. In any case, Becky began attending school in 1992, then Sarah began in 1997. Becky graduated in 2005 and finally, Sarah concluded her high school career this past June.
Today does not feel weird in any way; in fact, it feels rather liberating. No bus to meet, no boxes of tissues to take in, no special notebooks to buy because some anal-retentive teacher has to read assignments on college-rule paper as opposed to high-school ruled or whatever other kind of ruled paper is out there; no extra fees, no schedules to change, no gym uniforms to buy; no homework to check in the middle of the ballgame, no books to cover, no back-to-school nights at which some administrator thinks it the height of communication to read the student handbook to all the parents.
Of course, I miss the school girls who used to live in our house, but they are alive and well in my memory. I'm very proud of the adults that they have become. In fact, all that public schooling--and parenting--is like spring training. They are as prepared as Martha and I and Washington County Public Schools can make them. Becky's real season of life has started in earnest as she was married last October. Sarah's season opens up next week when she moves into Salisbury University for her freshman year. I am anxious and excited to see all the "wins" that I hope my girls will earn.
They're already winners in my book!
Posted by: Al Smith | August 24, 2010 at 03:55 PM