Onto the Third

We walked J to school as a family this morning. It's his first day of third grade and after setting the goals to walk to school everyday this year (rather than driving) and practice math facts everyday after school, he gave himself a customary Joshua pep talk. 

"All summer I knew this was coming, he said. "Time to do this thing. Third grade is going to be awesome. I'm going to make it into the top math group. If I want to be an engineer I have to be really good at math." 

His independence and vision inspire me, but I hope he remembers we are always right there with him wanting to help him become what he dreams of becoming.

It's only been in the past week that we've really built towards this day. We met D on Grounds yesterday and had a celebratory lunch with him. I had planned to pack something from home but J successfully convinced me that the occasion merited more than hummus and veggies. "Dad doesn't want something healthy--he wants something fun, something he will remember," he persisted. We stopped into the bookstore and selected a new t-shirt, one with the "UVA" logo as J was hoping to find, and then we ate pizza bagels and drank orange Crush.

 The night before we had attended the school's open house so that J could meet his teacher. We stowed his supplies, felt relief that he knew a couple kids, introduced ourselves to Miss J, and then he made his rounds by greeting all of his favorite people who work at his school. It is a blessing to feel so safe in a public place and I give all credit to the good teachers who work there.

There is purpose in everything and I hope third grade helps him learn that in little ways.