That back to school feeling

I certainly get it in early September - it's something about the scent in the air! It transports me back to my first term at Grammar School - I suppose that was the most significant school year of my life (can't remember first day at Primary School).

I still get that back to school feeling in September,. It is a mixture of apprehension mixed with a positive feeling of starting anew, a bit like we're supposed to feel at New Year.

Having spent all my life in education, I love going on holiday in September. We will be heading off to Spain in a couple of weeks and I shall be feeling sorry for all the people heading the other way...

Today was 'First Day at Primary School' for both my DGS and DGD1. They only went for a half day today but 9 - 3 tomorrow and thereafter ('for the rest of my life' said DGS) so we took them for lunch at the favourite cafe and then back to our house so that their respective Mums could recreate the photos we took of them on THEIR first days at school. Then we looked at the old photos - what a rush of nostalgia. No photos of me on my first day - which may be because, after a too close encounter with a doorstep on the Sunday, I started on Monday with my fringe shaved off and big black stitches on the front of my head. One way to stand out in a class of 45 pupils!

For the first time since I left teaching I am going back to school this September! Starting a p/t job in a school. DGS1 starts in Reception & DGD1 goes into Y2...tempus fugit!

Me too.
My body rhythm is set around the school year.
I even had my first child in the summer holidays and my second one in the October half term (not the same year fortunately)

That would have been clever glitabo.

Don't even mention it - autumn and winter will then be just round the corner!

Yes, I still live by termtimes! But how glad I am, each year, not to be going back! Loved my job, and the kids, and my colleagues, but love this life even more.

DGD1 awaiting her GCSE results on Thursday and panicking very quietly. She has five already, clever child (shows off madly) but strives always to do her best. She's just back from London and a YouTube festival. (????)

I still feel I should be rushing off to Staples to buy a tub of pens and some highlighters. And some white board markes and a board cleaner to lock away...

Oh dear, Ariadne, I read that as 'termites' and wondered if you were suffering from an infestation.

Must get that eye test organised.

where did you get "termites" from, Annobel? Time for a little lie down, maybe? Bet you bought the tubs of pens!! X

And colour coded folders? And dividers for each folder? And hoarded all the charity pens for the pupils who turned up without one?

Termtimes - termites....
Latterly, my students were mature ones - allegedly! Sometimes they actually had pens and paper. Someone in the staffroom usually had a stash...

Ah!

I'm yet another who can't 'let go' of term times.Growing up in a teaching household and then ,somehow, entering that marvellous profession!?,terms are still innate,in spite of retiring nearly 9 years ago----SCARY.! My Grandson starts school next week,so maybe that gives me a genuine reason to think in terms of terms again. The best bit is that now I enjoy celebrating a friend's early September birthday instead of hating that day, because it always meant BACK TO SCHOOL,as the shops remind us even before July is over.

I mentioned on another thread that on Tuesday I passed Clarks' shoe shop for kids at Bluewater, and it was heaving. I don't miss teaching, much as I loved it, and that reminded me about having young children - ditto! They were giving people a ticket as they entered..

If there are members of the family in any form of education, it's inevitable to see the year in terms. My youngest GS starts school next month and the elder GD starts her final year at Uni. So all five will be doing terms, as will my DiL. You feel almost like a truant, going on holiday in 'term time'!

I remember my daughter getting outraged by M and S having school uniforms in before the end of the summer term. Also trying to find her shoes just before the start of the autumn term, loads of other kids and mums also searching for shoes, shoes that were in vogue but without small heels, trying to find shoes in her size as she has large feet.
Going to the second hand sale at my son's Grammer School, he always had a new suit and shirts but I tried where I could to get all his sports kit second hand, that was football, rugby and cricket gear. Always buying new school ties as his were in shreds by the end of the year.
That lovely smell of a new pencil case and various pens,pens and coloured pencils. New lunchbox with the latest cartoon character depicted on the side.
My oldest GD will be four and half next summer and starts school. So now my son and his wife will have all this to come. Time flies

That reminds me, dorset, that my younger son (about 9, I think) was so cross about the 'back to school' notices in shops before the end of summer term that he sent a letter to the local press. They even published it though of course the retailers were completely unabashed.

Oh God, yes, how annoying - school uniform in July is like Christmas in October!!

I still see everything in terms. I think it's inevitable if you have children and grandchildren or if you've worked in educatino, which I have. I also think a lot of children worry at this time of year, especially if they're starting big school for the first time or moving school. I found this which has a few bits of useful info on it:

www.mydaughter.co.uk/raising-your-daughter/growing-up/mydaughter-doesnt-want-to-grow-up/

October RKGran? In another thread, I've mentioned that the 'unmentionable' cards are already on sale at our local garden centre.

Not to mention the two or three 'C' threads which have been started on here recently - but fortunately seem to have disappeared.....