OK, it’s the end of the third week of school, and I think it is safe to say that we are officially in the groove. So far it’s pretty groovy. For someone who brooded big-time for the entire month of August about going back to school, Sam is sooooo much happier now. Go figure!
He was especially happy one day this week, wearing his new Notre Dame t-shirt from Aunt Suzanne, Uncle Drew and Cuz’n Liam. (Thank you!) Since Notre Dame is the “Fightin’ Irish,” he decided to wear his bomber jacket to school, too. He kept saying, “Fightin’ – Bomber Pilot, get it? Fightin?'” Yes, I got it and thanks to that explanation, I am sure you get it now, too. (You just can’t make this stuff up.)
So then he decides to dig out his felt bomber hat from Halloween two years ago and wear it with the shirt and jacket! So cute on him, but so very dorky. I couldn’t help wondering if someone would make fun of him at school for being a total goofball, not that I could totally blame them. (And this is his mother saying this, mind you! That’s how high the goofball factor was!)
Oh man, he was so proud of himself at the bus stop! He showed it off to the other mothers who patiently “ooh-ed” and “ah-ed”at his little boy get-up. (Very kind women!!! Thank you both for not busting a gut laughing, Laura and Katie! ) And he marched onto that bus with a big smile plastered on his face.
All day, though, I couldn’t help cringing, wondering if someone was going to tease him. Would his bubble of innocence be burst today? After all, he’s getting a little big to get away with the little boy thing much longer. He is HUGE for his age — 4’6” and over 80 pounds! (He comes almost to my shoulder now.) No matter how big he is, though, I’d love to put off the days of peer pressure as long as possible. Unfortunately, it’s a reality, kinda like Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden.
So I was dying with curiosity to see his goofy self emerge from the bus. Would he be happy? Sad? Would he still be wearing the hat and jacket? Was the ND shirt a big hit? Or maybe he had forgotten the whole thing and lost interest. So many possibilities!
As usual he got off the bus and started sprinting as fast as he could towards our driveway. Every day he “races” the bus and tries to “beat” it while all the others kids are still getting off at the stop. (Yes, the thought has crossed my mind that he probably elbows kids to get to the front of the line, just like my mother said I did.) Then if our awesome bus driver is gaining on him (which she invariably is), she will drive as slooooooooowly as she possibly can to make sure he wins the race, dang it. It is so sweet! I absolutely LOVE that woman!
Anyway, I digress. So he gets off. He still had the hat on but not the coat (kind of like “shaken, not stirred.”) So with my deep analytical skills from law school, I surmised that he didn’t get made fun of because he still had the hat on. Phew! And he was probably just too warm for the jacket on the way home, like always.
So he came huffing and puffing up to the driveway, beating the bus yet again (of course). Then I had to ask THE QUESTION, “So how did everyone like your hat and jacket?”
All nonchalant, he answered, “I don’t know. My teacher made me take them off.”
Hadn’t thought of that possibility! I like this new teacher! Thank you, Mrs. Schwarzmann!
LibbY