Okay, as a mother with three children, aged 23, 21 and 19 (well, almost 20), this time of year - "Back To School" - has a whole new meaning to me than it used to. It used to mean excited, giggly children finding out who their teachers were and what friends had the same classes. It meant clothes shopping and school supply gathering. That part changed as the children got older. When they were young, clothes shopping was fun and painless. They were thrilled with whatever clothes you bought them (even the WalMart, cheaper kind). Of course, as they got older they got pickier and wanted the hippest, coolest, MOST EXPENSIVE clothes! Granted, they never got the hippest, coolest, MOST EXPENSIVE clothes, but we did our best to make sure they weren't totally humiliated the first day of school.
Now "Back to School" simply means - - no kids in the grocery stores during the day, I have to slow down to 20 in front of a school, and . . . best of all . . . quiet. At least until 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. I love this time of year.
Side note - - does anyone remember when we didn't have to buy 10,000 boxes of kleenex or 12 dozen pencils or 15 boxes of crayons/markers or 25-1,000 page notebooks - - -to SHARE ?? Pee chees - - that's about we needed.
Anyway, I digress.
I read the other day about a school (middle school, I think - - I forget where) that was going to have condoms available to all their students, 12 years and older. Just doing their part to make sure kids are safe. I almost threw up when I read that.
HOWEVER . . .
I know most schools and teachers are great, and that kids still have a chance to be kids and do those "kid" things which can bring tons of happiness to them and families. And great memories!
Here's to all you mothers with kids in school - - MAKE GREAT MEMORIES THIS YEAR!!
And remember - - pee chees STILL rock!!
Do you not think that providing condoms to children (yes they are children at that age) of such a tender age is just going to make them feel more pressured than ever to have sex because if the school thinks they must be having it they should be having it? Just sayin'....
ReplyDeleteI don't think schools should be handing out condoms at all - - at any age. I would have been livid if my 12 year old boys years ago had been offered condoms at school. This world is just a little messed up.
DeleteWhat are pee chees?? Never heard of them before. I attribute my reluctance to buy clothes and shoes on the ordeal that school shopping was as a child. I dreaded it and hated it. The only part I liked was getting a pencil case or Trapper Keeper (remember those??) and notebooks and patterned book covers (as opposed to the plain grocery bag).
ReplyDeleteI do remember Trapper Keepers :) There is a picture of a pee chee at the top of this post. They were just simple folders with holders on the insides. The most fun thing about pee chees was doodling all over them :)
DeleteCondoms to 12 year olds? Jeez, that seems awfully young. It's disturbing that it's considered necessary these days.
ReplyDeleteKind of gross, huh?
DeleteLast year of all this craziness. Next year will be a whole different story. Exciting really.
ReplyDeleteDon't you miss buying crayons and snacks and notebook paper?
Larissa, to be honest - - no, I don't miss buying crayons and snacks and notebook paper!!
DeleteI hate that the schools are taking over the roles of parents as far as sex education. Having condoms distributed without a ton of thought and communication undermines the values I seek to instill in my sons. Erg. And at some point, I'm going to post the supply lists I have from the Chicago Public School system on my blog. It's like I'm soley responsible for the maintenane and upkeep of the school. I'm surprised they didn't include a request for paint primer and rollers. I s'pose logistically, the kindergarteners wouldn't be able to carry theirs onto the bus...
ReplyDeleteUnlike my father who had to walk to school 5 miles in the snow both ways...uphill, I had it worse.
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
Do you know how tough it is to drive to school in a Chevy convertible with the top down, in 80 degree, sunny weather with shorts and flip flops on? I hope my kids neverr have it as rough.
haha. You poor thing - what a traumatic childhood you had :) Before I was married and moved to the great state of Washington, I used to drive to work in my VW convertible with the top down, 80 degrees (no shorts or flip flops). But at the end of the day I got to turn around and go to my apartment, which was across the street from the beach - it was rough, but I pushed through.
DeleteI LOVE THE PEE CHEES WHEN I SEEN THE PICTURE IN MY DASHBOARD I WAS SO EXCITED THEY ARE A LOST COMMODITY OF WANTS THESE DAYS ;[
ReplyDeleteSCHOOL IS SO DIFFERENT ;[
Pee chees were the best - - especially the doodling :)
Deletegoing to Google pee chees as i have never heard of this whatever it is ...
ReplyDeletemaybe it's a west coast thing . . . ???
DeleteWe are now empty nesters with all 6 kids through school and out on their own. Ohhhhhh the quiet is nice! LOL
ReplyDeleteHowever...the kids in our neighborhood don't go back until after Labor Day here so I will be enjoying the quiet outside from 9-3 daily. Some of the kids I will miss coming by to pet the dogs because there are some really sweet ones in our neighborhood!
Love,
LuLu~*xoxo
Our daughter is back to college in a couple of weeks and our son is looking for an apartment (our other son is married). So, soon enough we will have the house to ourselves - - again :)
DeleteI love paper and pens! Shopping for school supplies is one of the few good things I can think of as my son starts kindergarten. *tear*
ReplyDeleteIt IS fun when they're little like your little guy :) sad as it is, he will love it and you will eventually be okay!
DeleteFunny posting, and the only thing I used to hate about the first day of school was all the papers they brought home needing signed before the next day X 4= writers cramp. On switching out the kleenex for condoms, my the times have really changed haven't they? :/ My neighborhood has been quiet this week since the kids went back! :) Enjoyed reading your post!
ReplyDeleteOh man, how could I forget all the papers needing to be filled out and signed the first day!!
DeleteSome say Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but I love the Staples ad where the parent is dancing through the store and singing that song. If condoms are available at school, then I wish teaching the possibility of abstinence was at least given the same consideration. I'm sure kids, AND adults, would love to know it okay, and not abnormal, not to have sex. We got the "talk" in school, several times. Sex ed has been part of the curriculum for a long time. A member of our stake presidency teaches high school biology and he gets to teach the subject every year. He always, always, always makes sure the students know that he believes sex isn't a joke, it isn't casual, it does have it's place, it does have consequences, and he makes sure they understand all the mechanics properly. It's amazing how misinformed kids, and adults, are about that stuff. Unfortunately many parents would rather have the school do it for them.
ReplyDeleteI looked back at the article I read. So, to be fair, the school is giving parents a chance to "opt out" . . .
DeleteInteresting --handing out condoms ... -dumbfounded!
ReplyDeleteYeah ... I can glimpse the look of the face of my teenage girl when we went shopping during vacation --my opinion is no longer as valuable as it used to be :-)
My opinion stopped being important long ago :) My pocket book, however - - that is something else!
DeleteThe amount of pencils and gluestick I had to buy this year was ridiculous. But I'm glad I didn't have to buy condoms. That's unbelievable!
ReplyDeleteOh, no, Sherry. They give THOSE away for free :) ugh.
Deleteso very true---i know, it is crazy how much stuff these kids have to have to go to public school!!
ReplyDeleteI am desperate to keep my 12 year old daughter well...just that 12. I just moved her out of the top rated school in our county..it's a magnet and I felt sooo lucky to get in. She changed and grew up way too fast last year..so this year I moved her to a smaller school. And I feel like I got my kid back. The condems thing is just gross and a sad reflection on the direction we are moving in. As a parent to young children I feel I battle all the time with society to keep my kids young while I feel they still have the right to a childhood. I'm rambling..another great post Judy!
ReplyDelete