Reed's Remember the First Day of School

Remember the first day of school? You know, the summer is 'officially over', your vacation at the beach is a memory and your mom just bought you a pair of pants that are NOT what everyone else is wearing. Bittersweet is the feeling as the first day nears. What happened to Troy and Scott, your best friends, over the summer? As you got older, would the girl of your dreams remember your name (nope, oh well there's next year)? Only the first day will answer the questions.

So much preparation goes into this day. Mom took you to the local discount store (or K-Mart), or if you were lucky L.S. Ayers. You picked out new pants, a few shirts, underwear (nothing with Superheroes), and maybe even a new pair of Chuck Taylors (do you remember those?). You'd pick out a new 3 ring binder, pocket folders, a zippered plastic pencil/pen holder, new number 2 pencils, and those little erasers that fit on the end of the pencil. Oh, yeah, how about getting that new lunch box? It was metal, came with a small thermos and had Scooby Do on it (or Batman & Robin, G.I. Joe).

Today, things are not so different. Instead of lunch boxes, it is the cool backpack. It must have extra pockets, MP3 slots, be large enough for that folder and fit the new lunch box with the ice pack. My daughter still wants the jeans with butterfly embroidery and a pink belt.

Now, as a parent, my wife and I view the first day of school in a whole new light. Our kids are getting older. Each new school year brings new friends, new teachers and new trials for both them and us (plus some much needed free time for my wife). But, it is good to see them grow and mature.

So, when you see the big yellow buses or the Safety Guard at the cross walk ... smile and remember your first day of the new school year.