Bonne Rentrée
So, we are officially moved in. And we have survived the first week in our blended home. And – as of right now – we are alive to tell the story. All of this while starting four kids in a new school district where not one of them had any prior friends. And all four of them are still excited about everything. Pretty good. Actually, no. Pretty flipping amazing!
Our kids’ other parents got to take them to their new schools on the first day of school, or “la rentrée”, as we would say in French. I like the French expression, as it assumes that students come back and just pick up where they’ve left off at the end of the last school year. Both of the other parents were skeptical about the move, and that’s putting it mildly as far as one of them is concerned. But this being a good thing for our kids must have hit home on Tuesday, when they picked up their kiddos. That is assuming that the first day was as good as the second, third, and forth, when we picked them up. The kids could have not been any happier! They love their new teachers, their classmates, their school schedules, recesses, drama club offerings, etc. Possibly what they love most about this new school situation is that they can walk to and from school. Heck, I love that about this new school situation!
As a European, I think fresh air is one of the most important things to take in every day. We send our kids outside every day, in every weather. To a German, there is no such thing as bad weather; there is only the wrong kind of clothing (Es gibt kein schlechtes Wetter, nur die falsche Kleidung). So our kids walk. Plus, it burns calories and saves us from having to work out. Naturally, since this is the United States and not Europe, I cannot, in good conscience, allow them walk completely on their own, so I have to walk with them for now. Later, I can follow them at a (invisible to them) distance before cutting that last bit of the umbilical cord and letting them go by themselves.
Oh, and don’t think walking to and from school isn’t hot. It is, but it helps our bodies form a good system of heat regulation if we are exposed to the elements frequently at a young age. And the fresh air stimulates circulation so blood can flow to the brain and we can learn better in school. So, here’s to healthy kids, learning that we need to walk in the heat and the rain in order to take advantage of the privilege of receiving an education! 🙂
Ashley@Shakenstirredandblended
Hi, I'm Ashley and I am a freelance writer and editor for one local and one national publication. In my spare time, I teach foreign languages and manage two households. Oh, and raise four children. It's a crazy life that I chose and I love every second of it :o)
