The Smartt View

Ready or Not, Here Comes School  (written in 2014) by Lisa Smartt

We have a sophomore and a senior this year.  In the last few days, people have asked both of them the age-old question, “Are you boys ready for school to start back?”  They sigh and smile and say something like, “Not really.”  Of course, we all know the truth.  It doesn’t matter whether they’re ready.  Ready or not, here comes school.

I’ve been a boy mom for a long time now.  Nothing should surprise me.  But every year on the night before the first day of school, I find myself having the same conversation with our boys.  It’s becoming a tradition of sorts.

It always starts with my being overly cheery about school in general.  “So, tomorrow’s the big day, huh?  New year.  New opportunities.  This is gonna be a great year, guys.  Seriously.  This is probably gonna be the best school year you’ve ever had.  I have a feeling you’ll learn more than you’ve ever learned!  Prepare for a truly amazing year!”

Boy 1:  “Uh huh.”

Boy 2:  “Uh huh.”

Despite their lack of enthusiasm, I’m not easily thwarted when it comes to back-to-school promotion and marketing.  “Oh, and I washed all your new clothes too and they’re hanging neatly in your closet just waiting for that first big day.  You guys are just gonna be too handsome!  New clothes, new year!  What could be better?   Have you decided what you’re wearing on the first day of school?”

Boy 1:  “I’ll decide in the morning.”

Boy 2:  “Mom, we’re not girls.”

“Oh, I know.  I just remember how much I always loved laying out what I was planning to wear on the first day of school.  Just going down memory lane, I guess.  Oh, and there’s nothing more fun than organizing all those pens and pencils and putting the notebook paper into all the multi-colored folders.  Do you need a Sharpie to label any of your school supplies?”

Boy 1:  “Mom, my supplies are all still in the bag.”

Boy 2:  “We won’t even get them out till we get to school probably.”

Our two sons are loving young men with bright futures. I’m perfectly fine with their current lack of enthusiasm regarding school supply preparedness. And yes,  only overly-enthusiastic moms like me use phrases like “school supply preparedness.” Every year after our “inspiring” back-to-school conversation, I take consolation in one thing.  I have a feeling both of our boys will eventually marry wonderful women and have daughters.   

Their daughters will probably say things like, “Daddy, look at my sparkly princess pencil case. Isn’t it dreamy, Daddy?” “Oh, Daddy, Amber said that Carla said that Naomi said that Jenna doesn’t want to be my best friend.  But she DOES want to be my best friend.  She told me so last week.  She even gave me her favorite peach lip gloss for the first day of school.”  “Daddy, everything in my backpack needs to be labeled properly!”

And after those detailed back-to-school conversations with their daughters, those fine men will probably call me on the phone just to say, “Thanks, Mom.”  And I’ll say with an honest heart and a tear in my eye, “It was my pleasure.”