Thursday, August 26, 2010

Tales of a Third Grade Geez

“And just remember to look people in the eye when they talk to you,” I reminded my son Tommy as he got ready to leave for his first day of third grade.

“I know, Mommy. Geez,” Tommy said, rolling his eyes.

He’s been geez-ing me a lot lately.

It is true that he sometimes forgets to make eye contact though. He once had an entire conversation with someone while staring at the grass. He has Aspergers and eye contact can be difficult for him.

“If you need help with anything, just raise your hand,” I continued. Tommy sometimes can get frustrated while doing seatwork and he doesn’t always like to ask for help. So then he sits there near tears, frustrated and not wanting to finish his work.

“Geez, I know!” There was the g-word again.

“I’m going to miss you,” I said, handing over his backpack. He picked out a Bakugan backpack. I don’t get Bakugans and I don’t like how they cost $8 for one.

Tommy didn’t respond. Hello? Are you going to miss me too, son? I only gave you life.

“Yeah, I’ll miss you,” Tommy said, almost as an afterthought.

“Want to take pictures?” I wondered. He really has to be in the mood for photos. If he’s not he just stands there sulking going, “Geez!”

“Sure.” Tommy shrugged. “But not too many. I don’t want to miss my bus.”

Yeah, I don’t drive him to school. I think it’s important for kids to learn to ride public transportation. And also, because I’m not in the mood to wait in the drop off line.

“Were you okay with your breakfast? Should I have made you eggs or something?” I asked as I grabbed the camera. A lot of my Facebook friends were talking about elaborate breakfasts they had made their children on the first day of school. One woman had made her kids a smiley face pancake, complete with fresh fruit and homemade whipped cream. (!)

I made Toaster Strudels for Tommy. But hey, I squeezed the frosting into the shape of a smiley face at least.

“Breakfast was fine,” Tommy answered.

I took some pictures.











Tommy is sporting jeans from Wrangler, a shirt he had to have (“really Tommy, you want to wear a shirt with skulls on it for your first day of school?”), and Transformer shoes that I found for 75% off at Target.



He’s also sporting a Bakugan backpack. He insisted I show you all. It’s apparently a very big deal.



“Okay, enough, I have to go.”

So I grasped him by the shoulders and looked him in the eye and said, “I hope you have a fantastic first day. I remember back when I started third grade and—”

“I have to go,” Tommy cut in. He’s really anal about not being late for things.

“Okay, Tommy. I love you.” I pressed a kiss on his head.

“I love you, too,” Tommy said, rushed.

And then he ran off, probably worried that I’d try to talk to him some more.

As I watched him go, that song that Meryl Streep sings in Mamma Mia filtered through my mind. You know, the song Slipping Through My Fingers? I mean, I know it pertains to her daughter in the film, but still.

I’d like to say that he turned around and gave me one final wave.

But no.

He was off and ready to start his first day of third grade.

53 comments:

  1. LOL! He's just too cool for all that talk mom! He's adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ahhh! What a sweet boy you have! And you KNOW it's allll about the backpack, Mom!!! He's so super star cool with his backpack, sneakers and skull shirt!

    I didn't like 3rd grade. Cursive writing and multiplication tables - ugh!! Double whammy of ick!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh man, I think you just turned lame in his mind! Once they start using "geeze" it's all over!

    Or so I hear...

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh my gosh is he just handsome! You two make some pretty kiddies! I love that last picture of him darting to the bus stop.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Such a cute little guy! Great pictures, he's funny!

    ReplyDelete
  6. He's adorable! My twins have that same shirt! It's one of their faves. I make my boys breakfast every school morning. Dont hate me. =)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love to hear about Tommy. The pictures show he's not too cool to ham it up, so I think he's not a proto-tween yet. Cutie-pie, yes. I don't get Bagukan either, but I did pick up a bunch of them for a buck each on sale last year. They're well worth a buck so long as she doesn't start fetishizing them.

    Oh, see, this is reason #187 to not have Facebook. A nice warm toaster strudel with a mom-swirled smiley face? That says love in my book. If my tot wants pancakes with faces and whip cream eyebrows, she can hitchhike to IHOP.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm really not looking to my girls first day of school next week. It means I gotta get my arse in gear. Tommy sounds like he's got his eye on the prize! I hope he has a great first day!

    ReplyDelete
  9. He is so cute! I didn't know he had Asperger's...or if I did know I totally forgot! He sounds so much like me, actually. I'm really anal about time too.

    ReplyDelete
  10. My son had that exact same shirt! Your guy looks pretty happy to go. I'm sure it's not at all because he didn't want to hear your story about third grade. Really!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Aw! Such a Big boy. We finished 3rd grade last year now we're in 4th.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ah! So hard! And yet, with that backpack, how could anything go wrong?

    ReplyDelete
  13. I vaguely remember 3d grade...

    Riding a bus there.. walking home... a horrible teacher named Miss Dougherty.

    I don't remember my mom making breakfast and probably had a bowl of cereal. I know she didn't kiss me goodbye (she never has).

    And I'm sure I didn't have a backpack - or a skull shirt.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Such a fun loving personality. I'll bet he's going to have a ton of friends!

    ReplyDelete
  15. that's great that he was so excited to go back.

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a sweet little guy! Geez, he's cute.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Very cute photos! I think the others are right. It's all over when they start with the "geez." My guy is starting 5th grade in 2 weeks and no longer thinks I'm funny. I has the sads.

    ReplyDelete
  18. the second photo needs to be poster sized and framed. AMAZING. ha.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Good for you for not driving him to school. I rode the bus and I turned out fine. I figure my (future) kids can do the same :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. What a cutie. Don't stress about not making an elaborate breakfast. I typically put out a bowl of cereal for my stepdaughter and remind her to put her dish in the sink when she's finished :-)

    ReplyDelete
  21. I agree, dont' stress about not making elaborate breakfast. I can't remember if my mom did or not, I remember the pics though.

    I also had to google "Bakugan" to figure out what you were talking about. Strange.

    ReplyDelete
  22. So bittersweet. But he is obviously primed and ready for action. Yum, a Toaster Strudel sounds really good about now!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Tommy is so adorable. This post made me cry, but I really can't say why.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Is he running away from you in the last picture? Hahahaha.

    I hope his first day was a success. My 3rd grade aspie isn't too keen on school yet although he usually loves it. I'm a little worried.

    ReplyDelete
  25. He is so cute. I hope he had a great day.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love your blog and I love your writing style. Tommy is a lucky kid and I hope he has fun in school. He sure is cute. Love the blue eyes!

    ReplyDelete
  27. He's the man of the house now, you can't keep treating him like a third grader ;)
    Nice backpack!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Son counted down to the time they had to leave for the bus. Then the rest of the day has been stressful.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Oh he is just so precious; I got teary! I know everybody says it but one day he will be getting off the bus with his graduation cap and gown in hand; it really does go so fast.
    I hope he had a great first day and hope you did not worry too much!
    I am visiting and now following from SITS. I hope when you have a chance you will stop by to say hello and maybe follow.
    http://doreenmcgettigan.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Why do they have to grow up? Why dang it why?

    ReplyDelete
  31. Stylin on the first day of school! Very cute :) And "geez" is one of my favorite words, too, along with "sheesh!"

    ReplyDelete
  32. How absolutely adorable is he! I love his outfit and his pictures are priceless! Hope he had an awesome first day of school! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  33. I like that he not only lets you take pictures, but smiles in them. My brother probably stopped doing that in kindergarten.

    If I had lived at home during college, I would've let me mom take pictures then, too.

    Also, I guess "Geez!" is better than, "Damn, woman!"

    ReplyDelete
  34. Don't cramp his coolness, mom.

    ReplyDelete
  35. What a great kid. I love his backpack., it is clearly a big deal. Nice choice Tommy! Love the shirt too. Hope third grade is fun!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Oh, he is so cute and very cool backpack! I LOVE that song from Mama Mia :) Hope he had a wonderful day.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Ah, school days. Rush, rush, rush.
    This beautiful young boy MUST be related to a certain darling little blonde who likes to say, "I don't Yike". He looks exactly like her. How did I miss pictures of his cuteness! Yep, as someone mentioned, you two make perfect copies!
    Enjoy every moment for they pass so quickly, never to return.

    ReplyDelete
  38. As Linda M said, "it made me cry, I don't know why". I'm still crying, and I do know why. My Tommy had the blue eyes and blond hair.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Best 1st of day of school post I've read this year. He's a stunner. Bakugan, skulls, Transformers, and all. Dale Earnhardt Jr wears Wranglers so Tommy's got class.

    ReplyDelete
  40. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  41. He is sweet! And they were good reminders, mom. I will be sending Son off to school with those same ones, especially the eye contact one! He looked sharp for the first day.

    ReplyDelete
  42. AWW! He's soooo cute! I hope his first day was AWESOME!

    ReplyDelete
  43. I hope Tommy had a great first day of third grade! :)

    ReplyDelete
  44. I LOVE the pictures. And I really need to know where you got the shirt with the skulls. I have been trying to find one for my nephew.

    ReplyDelete
  45. That is so sweet! I often wonder what goes on behind the scenes at the homes of my students on the first day back :). Your little one sure is a cutie!!

    ReplyDelete
  46. He is one cool dude! Boy he sure is growing up!

    ReplyDelete
  47. He's very handsome. It's so sad when they don't need us as much but also a little liberating.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for the comment!

Share This

 
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...