The First Day of School

A picture is worth a thousand words.

I promised you all an account of our very bad, no good, horrible first day of school. 

I'll sum it up like this: Coco threw a massive fit over a backpack that was really hideous and poor quality that J and I wouldn't let her have. (Weeell, it would be more accurate to say that we wouldn't let her keep it. Because I had been wimpy enough in the face of a lot of crying and whining in the middle of Target a few days before to buy it in the first place, with the caveat that we would take it home and "see what Daddy thinks." Fail.) Nothing went as planned. I wound up driving her to school instead of walking, which I had really been looking forward to. And just when I had arrived back home from taking Theo to his school and thought it was all over, they called to say that he had thrown up all over the playground and I had to go straight back. But it gets worse! I got there just in time to see quite plainly that Theo was also suffering from diarrhea. There were lots of tears on the first day of school, mostly my own. And I didn't even manage to get a first-day-of-school photo. :(

But Coco's teacher did! Obviously Coco did not remain upset for long. :)

On the one hand, I have to share the honest truth because I do not want to be part of the social media conspiracy that makes motherhood look like all cupcakes and roses. When I share this less-than-perfect day, it might make others who may have had a rotten first day feel less alone. And that is important because it is no joke that there is a lot of pressure when you see everyone else's perfect first-day photos plastering Instagram! 

Coco: day two. Theo: sick.

But on the other hand, at some point honesty becomes sort of depressing. We don't go on Instagram or read blogs for a dose of depressing reality - we have newspapers for that! ;) We read blogs and go on Instagram because we want to be inspired and to see things and read things that will give us ideas to live more beautifully. I'm trying to strike a sort of keeping-it-real balance here but I have no idea if I'm even close.

Coco: scooting to day three. Mama and Theo: walking! Also, backpack.
I'm glad I stayed firm and set good limits. 

So here's what I learned on the first day of school: When it comes to parenting, it is so important to let go of perfectionism (particularly when it comes to milestones!) and to be mindful of how we frame things. So, instead I'll sum up our first day like this: 

• It can be very hard to set limits with our children sometimes.
• Not everything always goes to plan, and that's okay because we can be flexible. 
• Sickness always arrives at the most inconvenient moment! 
• Crying is a great release. 
• Coco will get such a kick out of their first-day-of-school photo some day - and Theo looks positively adorable spacing out, most likely because he has a fever no one yet knows about!

Honestly, what can you do?! I hope you had a wonderful first day of school wherever you are. And if you didn't have a wonderful first day of school, please share in the comments. Obviously this is a safe space. No judgment here! 

PS - If you're curious, Coco's backpack that we finally agreed upon can be found here. And the awful one that she initially wanted ("What is that? A backpack for strippers?!" J said when he saw it) can be found here. ;)

PPS - The best reaction to the first-day-of-school photo, from Coco's godmother in Switzerland. (I had sent the photo with the caption, "I'm the worst mother on earth.")

I have no idea what you're talking about. Looks like a typical day to me.
Goddamn they are both adorable!
Her jean jacket is awesome.

So there you have it, folks. Let go of perfectionism, be mindful of how you frame things, and get by with a little help from your friends!