The Last Winnie the Pooh

In the midst of the storms, time is flying by. I am aware of it and try to cherish each day accordingly, but sometimes things still sneak up on me. Some days I am grumpy, and other days I am so glad to still have all my boys at home that nothing really bothers me! I dread the empty refrigerator days ahead!

This year, I only have one long list of supplies to get instead of three! It is a little bit sad, but all of the "big" money will go to high school fees for those laptops. So it is a good thing we don't have to get a long list in addition to that, for budget reasons. So I enjoyed getting those first grade supplies and the little extras that make backpacks special. First grade! When did that happen? Kindergarten flew by way too quickly. And I dropped off my boys almost every single day and picked them up AND saw Sam before lunch almost every day. And it still flew by too fast...

And then the school clothes shopping. I remember shopping before Andrew went to kindergarten. I am a huge clearance shopper, so I don't wait until the last minute for everything. I found the cutest navy and red striped pj's at the outlets in Blowing Rock. They were $5, and they were so cute! But Andrew kept saying he did not want them. Finally, he said he did not want to wear those to kindergarten - everyone would laugh at him! After I assured him they were just pj's, he was fine. I always remember that when buying pj's. We used to get jeans, shirts, shoes, socks, etc. to fill in any gaps before school started. Everyone started with clean shoes. Will's were probably dirty on Day 2, but at least his teachers saw they were clean on the first day!!! We handed clothes down, so the favorites I found on clearance -all of the preppy Ralph Lauren stuff and adorable Gap clothes - were worn until they were almost worn out. Which made me glad Will was third. He was so hard on his clothes! And he still is! I had everything in labeled bins, and I had their closets organized just so. They maybe had a few too many clothes but not too many. Now they are minimalists when it comes to clothes. I rarely buy them things except to run or bike in. They wear the same things over and over. So I still have Sam to hunt for the "cute" boy things and shoes. He has already started liking to wear the same things over and over, so he will be like his brothers after all. I found a box of Will's old clothes a few weeks ago and washed them for Sam. They will be just the right size this fall - a few of the things he did not wear out! And Sam is so excited to wear Will's clothes!

Then there were the LL Bean backpacks - the best backpacks ever! They had their initials, and I think Peter's lasted for 7 or 8 years! Andrew got another brand when he went to high school, but it did not last. Will's was dirty and looked several years old after a short time, so I went with a durable outdoor brand for them and am pleased they won't need new ones this year! Sam's backpack was big enough for his folder, books, and diabetes kit. When it frayed a little around the front, I was so disappointed. But I called PBK this summer and explained why I loved it, and they sent me a duplicate. After finding the coordinating lunch box at the outlet this summer, he is ready to go for $8. I had skipped LL Bean for a while because they changed their backpack a little bit. But we still have an LL Bean lunch box that is six years old that we use as Sam's diabetes kit.

So this year, I will be dropping off one little person at Hardin Park for the first time in 11 years! I have always had two since Peter started school! When Will was in 7th, Sam was in the preschool there. How weird! And one will be driving the others to school and home from practice! Although that is wonderful and gives this mom a lot of freedom, I am so thankful for my little buddy who loves to see me in the afternoons! It helps the transition that I am not yet ready to fully make! As most parents are starting to let go when their child is a senior, I really cannot yet. I can some, but our situation is very very different. So I have to find the line and walk it to give him freedom while taking care of him. I want him to be able to be free and independent - that is what I am working for.

When we shopped last week in Pigeon Forge at the outlets, there was the softest, cuddliest Winnie the Pooh. He was on sale for the lowest price I have ever seen. Sam has Pooh bears that were hand-me-downs but not a big soft Pooh like this. I sadly thought if I did not get him, I never would! So I bought him and carried him close to me the rest of the day. The last Winnie the Pooh for these boys...

And when it's time to start letting this youngest one go, I will be better at it I am sure. I will keep onto him and teach him and train him to take care of himself and his health. His time and efforts now are an investment in his future health. And I have a lot more years to do it. Although...they will be gone in a blink! So I am very diligent in this every single day and remember that when it gets old. If I don't do it, he won't later. And of course I have plenty of help!

So, as school starts this year, I will bravely accept that my boys will be a SENIOR, JUNIOR, FRESHMAN, and FIRST GRADER! And I will strive to enjoy every moment, every race, every funny moment, because this time with them has gone by so fast. I am so thankful I was able to stay home with them while working part-time when they were so little. I look back and know that this time would be so much harder if I had not! What special gifts they are! And all they have been through with each other will teach them for whatever God has in store for them. I just pray they keep on the path He has for them.

Happy School Year!