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First Week of School
By Margot | September 8, 2011
Charlie and Andy on First Day of School
Sam and Andy first day three years ago
The Boys on the Star of India last Weekend
 
Boys and me on the Front of a Russian Sub
The boys had a good first week of school. Charlie didn’t cry at all. Just said “Bye Mom, Bye Dad.” and sat down on his carpet square. He was going over his addition in the car on the way to school the first day and I had to tell him he won’t get to that for another year. Andy’s big brotherly advice, “Charlie if you say wiener, or show people your wiener at school you will be expelled and then my popularity will be finished.” Actually a valid concern with Charlie who was a bit of a nudist over the summer. The house is completely quiet while Neil and I are working which is so odd. It’s been smoking hot here which is hard on the teachers and the kids but makes for beautiful beach days after school. Yesterday was half day and we went and boogie boarded with Kelly and Jett and Kennan later in the afternoon.
Andy has a teacher who is new to our school and Charlie has Miss Hill. Neither of them ever had Sam – though I know Ms. Hill followed our website and knew both boys well. I so want them to love the boys. Especially Mrs. Brauch who doesn’t know us at all. I know it doesn’t work this way but I have this irrational thought that the rest of the boys lives should go completely smoothly after Sam. I know, I know, aside from being completely unrealistic, it wouldn’t be good if their lives were a cakewalk but I still have that thought. Poor Ms. Hill has thirty kids in her class and I can’t figure out why kindergarten of all the classes has the most kids. Andy only has 24. Anyway, I’m trying not to be helicopter parent (at least yet ;-).
Sam’s class is in middle school. I talked to several parents who said they didn’t want their parents to walk them in or take their picture in front of the school. Such a new chapter. I think middle school might have been harder for Sam with Cancer. His friends and classmates were so protective of him in elementary school and middle has so many more kids that wouldn’t have known him and the dynamic would have been totally different. Also, I know he would have had a whole different awareness of cancer itself that I’m glad he didn’t have. Though I’m sure our sweet Sam would have had everyone loving him and pulling for him before we knew it and would have handled it all with grace and his little wry smile.
I am getting lots of work done this week and lots of exercise. Soccer games start this Saturday and I’m coaching Charlie’s team and will miss Andy’s first game but he has another game on Sunday. Last weekend was one of our first sportsless weekends and we did some beach days and relaxed a lot. On Saturday Maureen and I took the boys down to Old Town, we ended up riding the trolley. We got off downtown and there was a boatfest going on and we climbed around on all the boats. That’s where we took the pictures above. It was very spontaneous and fun. Andy is getting his tonsils and adnoids taken out on Tuesday. The surgeon giving us the whole run down of surgery and what happens were surprised when we held up our hand to stop and said, “Yes, we know the drill.” So we will be spending some time at Children’s Hospital next week.
Please keep our little friends Jack Bartoz, Patrick Chance in your thoughts.
They have both gotten bad news lately. September is Childhood Cancer awareness month. Please keep in mind all of the children who spent their first day of school in the hospital or at home with low counts.
Margot
Topics: Progress Reports | 3 Comments »
September 13th, 2011 at 3:29 am
hey san diego hutchisons…
no worries on class size; Charlie has a phenomenal memory and Andy is a prodigy…
Sam planted his own brand of seed in his classmates; the seed of compassion. Sam attends middle school every day in the hearts and minds of young kids and his latent seed of compassion will sprout someday as these kids face their own difficulties in their life. I know that I look at my own difficulties in a different light as my own burdens are nothing compared to what Sam faced in his quiet stoic manner. So, Sam, heres a big heart filled thank you – you were with me today and were with everyone who ever knew you.
And Margot-thank you for posting; we all love and miss Sam and appreciate the updates on the kids and you/Red.
September 15th, 2011 at 4:32 am
Did Andy say that- wow!!! So funny! Love the pictures. You look so great Margot! Thinking of you on the first day of school- I know it was hard for you. It does help that Sam’s class is in middle. And you will looove Ms. Hill! She is amazing. If Charlie moves to Mrs McDonald”s class she will be great too. Wishing you all a good year. Love Angela(Madison’s Mom)
September 27th, 2011 at 4:01 am
Hi Guys,
Just thinking of you and your Sam during these back to school times!
I’m sure you’re not quite sure what to do with yourselves in the quiet house all day. Sending love and thoughts from Hans and fam.
xoxo,
Lara