The First Day of School
When I was in young, the first day of school was always exciting. Sitting at the kitchen table, dressed in my new school clothes, having my breakfast, I remember thinking that the summer went by too quickly.
Endless games of baseball and soccer filled my carefree days of summer, as well as countless miles ridden through the neighborhood on my Western Flyer bicycle. Could the summer really be over already?
As I sat eating my breakfast hoping that the Coco Puffs would kill the butterflies in my stomach. My mother would be at the counter making coffee for my father and packing his lunch. When my father had left for work she would turn to me and say, “What would you like for lunch today, peanut butter and jelly or bologna and mustard?” I never remember my mother asking me what I wanted for lunch any day other than the first day of school. My mother always made the best sandwiches.
I have often thought that if I could spend just a few more minutes with my mother, if I could ask her anything, I would ask her to make me a bologna and mustard sandwich. She would make my sandwich and pack my chips, cookies and juice in my new metal lunch box with my favorite TV hero displayed in brilliant colors on its sides. When lunch time came I would always find a short note tucked in my lunch box that said “I love you son, be good, Mom.”
When I heard my son coming down stairs for school this morning, I asked him the way my mother asked me so many years ago “What will it be for lunch today peanut butter and jelly or bologna and mustard.”
He looked at me a little strangely and said, “I am in high school, nobody brown bags it in high school!”
I thought about that for a moment and then asked, “What about some breakfast?”
“Just some coffee” my son said.
When did he get to be so grown up?
I poured us each a cup of coffee, and we talked briefly while he waited for the bus to come. It struck me how fast time passes. It seems like only yesterday that I was little boy sitting in my mother’s kitchen on the first day of school, and now I am sitting in my kitchen with my son who is almost grown.
When the time to leave arrived he grabbed his back pack and his gym bag and headed for the door. Another first day of school had come and gone. How I wish that I could freeze time and just enjoy these moments for a little bit longer.
I called to him before he walked out the door and said, “I love you son, be good.”
Concerned Citizen
2:00 pm on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
awesome!
Troy W. Pritt
9:15 am on Saturday, September 3, 2011
Jo Anne Idahl Spangler
I just finished reading your new article. It brought tears to my eyes and caused me to remember my first days of school. On our first day of school (Your Mom, Leah, and me) it was always special. Your Grand Mother would make sure all of our new clothes looked right and then she gave us each a special hairdo. I hadn't thought about this for many many years and then I really did cry. Life is just too short.
kim pritt
9:18 am on Saturday, September 3, 2011
Lena Grace Youngblood
Made me cry!!!. But I could feel in my heart exactly what you wrote. Thank you for that. I miss my mom and dad Soooo much and my babies. My girl is 22 and out on her own. My boy is 11 and I am hanging on to his youth. He is in 6th grade and with the big kids upstairs now at school. In AZ its k-8, then high-school. They have been in school 3 weeks now. I wanted to walk him in because we were late and he is in wheelchair for a while with hurt foot. He normally walks even with having Spina Bifida. When I signed him in, I started wheeling him to elevator. He said "mom, I got this" I said "c'Mon buddy, let me wheel you up so you don't tire your arms" he said"no mom really" The elevator door opened and closed after we loaded and I knelt down and looked him in the eyes and said, " Lyle, I know your a big boy and I will never embarrass you in front of your friends, I'm just gonna keep kissing you now until we get to the 2nd floor" (kiss, kiss, kiss...) He looked at me and said "thanks mom, you do have the best kisses" The door opened and off we went down the hall to his class. When I got him in room I said " have a great day Lyle" and he just looked up at me holding a wonderful smile knowing that mommy was still able to get that kiss in before we said good bye today. He held on to it from the elevator... I gave Lyle a huge smile back knowing we shared the same thought.
kim pritt
9:18 am on Saturday, September 3, 2011
Samantha Maenner I shared your blig with my mom. She said she could hear your mom saying that to you!!! My youngest is a senior this year. This is my last first day of school. Time goes by so fast! Great job!!
kim pritt
9:19 am on Saturday, September 3, 2011
Lois Smith Idzi
You made me cry Troy!!!! It's the little things Mom's do when your young that you just don't appreciate until you are older. Your Mom was a wonderful mother!!! (she always made sure you had a good babysitter when she had to leave you!!!!! haha!!!!)
kim pritt
9:19 am on Saturday, September 3, 2011
Nanci Lee Pritt Wheeler
Brings back memories she did make the best sandwiches! God I miss that woman!
kim pritt
9:21 am on Saturday, September 3, 2011
Donna Pritt Cummins
My nephew Troy wrote this article. I can picture him sitting at the kitchen table when he was a little boy and I can picture him having coffee with his high school son. I always took a picture of my girls on the first day of school. This year was the first year there wasn't any girls at home. I jokingly told my freshman in college to take a picture and of course she said no.
kim pritt
9:21 am on Saturday, September 3, 2011
Sherri Swanson Defesche
What a beautiful, emotional piece! I loved reading it and thinking of my own daughters. Thanks for sharing!!
kim pritt
9:22 am on Saturday, September 3, 2011
Beverly Jones
Awww....anybody got a tissue?
kim pritt
9:22 am on Saturday, September 3, 2011
Cindy Reed Mills
this really made me cry! What a great story!! I always told me kids as I woke them up.... "it's a HAPPY day!!!" they would moan and groan! Ha! But on Monday, Molly left me a text message with those same words to me! Oh how I cried!! I miss her so much and it is very lonely here without my kids!! I have one left, bit he is a junior in band and is gone all day everyday!
Danette Pritt Derka
2:57 pm on Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Very Good!! She always made the best sandwiches and lunches. I wish I still had those notes that she use to leave in my lunchbox.