Back To School Jubilation All Over Town

September 4, 2006 - 1:36 PM by Allison

Looks like I’m not the only mother in Israel — or in Ra’anana — who is thrilled that the new school year has begun. Ra’anana Ramblings is a member of the same sisterhood:

The first day of school. I’m lovin’ it!

After I dropped everyone off this morning (after hanging around in each kid’s classroom for a bit, just to make sure everything was A-OK), I could have sworn I heard a large, collective sigh echoing over the town. You know, from all those parents who were so relieved to finally get their kids back to school. I believe I even witnessed a few of these folks break into impromptu jigs on the street. OK, no, not really.

Speaking of school- I must say, buying school supplies isn’t like it used to be- I know I’m supposed to say “and it never was” ala Herb Caen, but darn it, it DID used to be fun when I was a kid! The circular from Target or wherever would arrive with the weekend newspaper, and we’d check out all the pencils, looseleaf paper, Trapper Keepers…and actually buying the stuff was like a religious experience. Yes, I was a nerd.

Taking my kids to buy all their school stuff the other day didn’t impart quite the same feeling. They liked the shopping trip, but wading through pencil sharpeners, rulers (no inches! Hrmph!! scratch that- all of a sudden I’m seeing lots with inches as well as centimeters), notebooks, etc. just didn’t do it for me like it used to. I guess that’s called growing up (!).

I did feel a twinge of excitement at the sight of a bottle of Elmer’s Glue, looking just like it did all those years when I was a little student, with the same weird mutant cow-type animal on the label. Click here to find out who and what that animal is, along with some fun glue facts. Yes, I said fun glue facts.

Anyway, the kids came home happy from their first day, and we’re already into the after-school chug (extracurricular activity) madness- today I drove the judo carpool. But it’s a good madness. Much better than the long summer break madness!

Share with others