It literally feels like YESTERDAY that we moved our family across the country from Minnesota to Florida, and yet here we are celebrating the 100th day of school!
Baylen, Emersyn, and Mckinley had to decorate vests and a shirt with 100 things attached to them to celebrate. Can you tell we had an array of moods getting out of the car this morning? Bay was excited to show his friends his Lego shirt, Mckinley was a little reluctant but followed suit, Emersyn was scared that she would be the only one wearing the vest and completely terrified of being embarrassed, and Case just made funny faces at the camera.
I TOTALLY forgot to work on these projects over the long weekend ??♀️ so last night was fun. ? You should have seen our house around 8pm after we were all tired from piano lessons and soccer practice. Helping 3 small children attach 300 tiny items when they’re completely exhausted?! Complete chaos! ?
Chances are high that there are definitely not exactly 100 things on each one. I hope they didn’t have the kids go through and count them at school or they might have been REALLY confused! ? (I promise Mom knows how to count! ??)
This morning I drove into the school parking lot and watched all the kids get out of their cars and proudly walk in wearing their trinkets.
As I watched other moms walk in, I thought about the fact that each of us probably had our own unique stories of how we managed to get these projects done. But yet you’d never know it by the smiles we greeted each other with.
For some reason, my default isn’t to assume that other moms had any trouble at all. I immediately tell myself I was probably the only one who was stressed out by it, and how I was the only one who waited until the night before. How I was the only one who lost my patience, the only one who still had a messy kitchen this morning from the explosion of glue, foam stickers, and Legos. Surely all the other moms have it figured out more than I do.
It turns out that after I dropped off the kids, I talked to several other moms who did indeed have their own stories. One mom was out of town when the instructions and vests were sent home, and had no clue about the project until last night! One mom had jewels falling off of her daughter’s vest as they walked in.
After drop off I went to a Bible study with some other Kinder moms and learned that they too all had their own chaotic stories that surrounded the 100th day of school projects!
It was REFRESHING to know we weren’t alone.
Here’s what I’m learning about being a first time elementary school mom. In a way it feels like you’re a brand new mom all over again. None of us first time moms know what the heck we are doing, and it’s so easy to fall into the trap we did when we were moms for the first time with newborns. We’re quick to compare ourselves to how other moms are doing it, how their kids are doing academically compared to ours, if they are packing healthier lunches than we are, etc. On top of that, we’re nervous if we remembered to read all the papers and email reminders that were sent home. The truth is, all of us are sort of winging it alongside each other! And when we take a minute to acknowledge the fact that we’re all in this together, the burden becomes a lot lighter. We’re able to laugh at the things that caused our blood pressure to rise the night before!
To all of you mommas who are new to having children in elementary school or are at a new school for the first time, you are NOT alone, and you are NOT the only one. WE’VE got this! We can stop worrying that we’re going to mess up our kids because we didn’t do enough, or know enough. Pretty soon we’ll be veterans and we’ll know the ropes, but until then, let’s acknowledge that it’s okay to be a newbie and take a minute and chill the heck out! Each of our children are so unique, and each of us are so unique! Let’s stop chasing perfection, and instead be confident in the fact that all we can do is our best, and Jesus will take care of the rest! Everything is going to be okay, even if we do miss a few things here and there! HIS GRACE IS ENOUGH!
LOVING our kids just as they are, and working to mold their hearts is way more important than everything looking put together at school.
I want to close by giving a HUGE shoutout to all the early elementary school teachers who might be reading this….WOW. I got stressed over one freaking project, and you guys do like 1,000 things like this every day! I am truly in awe of how you do what you do, and it’s such a gift that you are willing to love on our kids day in and day out! And please do keep sending projects like this home…it’s good “heart work” for us moms and keeps us humble! ?
xo,
Amber
P.S. For more reflections on parenthood, life, and business, follow us on Facebook (Hun Let’s Run) and on Instagram: @ambermariekuiper and @jakekuiper! We’d also love for you to subscribe to our Hun, Let’s Run Podcast! For more info about joining our fitness community as a customer or coach, please email us at amber@mommysmetime.com!
