Saturday, August 8, 2009

Count Down to School!

Anyone else excited about Back to School?

This year it takes on a whole new meaning for me. College.

Yup, the one and only kid is going to college. It's not so simple as throwing bedding in a trunk and clothes in a duffel bag. Oh no. There's so much more to it all.

My kiddo is lucky, he knows his roommate. Friends from High School, they picked each other. Now we're coordinating who bring what. No, not food. Game and computer systems. Printers, microwave and fridge. Dishtowels and brooms. The laptop is on the way, Grandma bought the microwave, and as we speak the new towels and sheets are going through the wash. Next step, get them monogrammed because he chose colors too dark for me to mark with a Sharpie. Sigh.

And trying to get him to sort out his clothes... oy. I know guys are easier than girls in some respects, certainly when it comes to basic clothes, but in his own way he's as picky, if not pickier. We can't buy jeans because Old Navy doesn't have what he wants in stock at the moment, so he's heading off with only four pairs, most of which are on the ragged side, and we'll mail order later. He's looking at T-shirts, they have to be funny, but his brand of funny, not what Mom thinks is funny. Socks we're good on, but he needs more shorts. Coats, hats, gloves and scarves are covered (it gets to -60F where he's going), but we're still fighting about boots.

So here's a poem my mom found today and gave to my son. Written by my sister probably close to thirty years ago...

How was I to know when I was five, playing dolls and tinkertoys,
That with each stepping stone - first grade, second, third, fourth...
Its magnification would increase

From tinkertoys to spelling words, and the shadow grew
From spelling Bees to Algebra and the shadow grew more
From square roots to college boards and the shadow grew

The grade,
The grade,
The grade!

The almighty G.P.A.

Registration,
Pass or Fail
Graduation?

The Almighty G.P.A!

I think I'll email this to him once a month. Just to remind him, homework before gaming! We've already had the talk about drinking, drugs and parties. He and his roommate both are adamantly opposed to the bad stuff. Whew. One worry reduced.

What plans are you making for back to school? Shopping? Lunch out? Pedicures? Massages? New books to read? Talk to me, I want to hear. Me, I'll be trying to figure out how to do all the jobs he does around the house. Sigh.

Morgan Q. O'Reilly
Get Some Tonight

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10 comments:

Unknown said...

OMG Morgan, I can't believe your baby is already leaving the nest! Congratulations on doing such a great job. *G*

I have less than two more years before I have to go through this too...starting to panic over here! *L*

Plans? Hell, Barry and I have a back to school celebration we have followed for many years. We have a celebratory breakfast and then come home and listen to the quiet! Yes, no video sounds, no music, not TV blaring...and then we take a nap without any interruptions. *L*

Once again, congratulations on your baby's successes!!

Morgan O'Reilly said...

Your celebration sounds fabulous! My son was just saying Back To School are probably a parents three most favorite words to string together. LOL. If only he knew :)

Unknown said...

LMAO! They are! I love our baby, but we need some privacy! *L*

J. Morgan said...

Just ask yourself, how much of you is in him, and you'll know how buck wild he'll go. Scary thought huh?

Morgan O'Reilly said...

No fair scaring me like that!!

J. Morgan said...

Okay, I promise not to mention it again.

Ericka Scott said...

We went back to school shopping today for Drama Teen (sophomore in High School)...clothes, more clothes, then jewelry and earrings to coordinate with those clothes (made her buy those herself). Then came the school supplies...I think we're done...I think.

Cannot wait for Monday!

Maithe - your back to school celebration sounds like a great one. I may have to indulge in a nap those first few dyas.

Morgan O'Reilly said...

*Gets down on her knees and thanks God for sending her a boy!*

I'm broke enough, but to have a girl?? Whew, we'd never recover!

Anonymous said...

Ericka, I hear you. My daughter is going to be a Freshman. So of course she has to look her best, which included clothes, jewelry, shoes, school supplies, backpack and EVEN highlights for her hair. My son starts seventh grade but my kids school is 7-12. So of course my daughter is instructing my son on how he MUST dress so he doesn't make HER look bad.

I hope I survive this year.

Piper Denna said...

We get a big trip to Denver next weekend for school shopping. Got the supplies already, now it's on to clothes. Boy is not the least interested, but I'm forcing him. LOL. Won't have him going around in the same 3 t-shirts he was determined to wear all last year. He does want new sneakers, however.
Girl is already making lists of what she "needs". Proabably Mom should be getting a couple of new things since back-to-school means back-to-subbing too, but they'll have to wait. Will schlepp around in my old cruddy stuff til I get my first paycheck.