The big yellow school bus lumbered to a stop. The door creaked open and a group of children waiting on the corner clambered aboard. Groaning with effort, the bus rumbled down the street, reaching a top speed of five miles an hour before lurching to a stop again, a block later.
A long line of cars snaked behind the bus. I was one of them. Ahead of me, I could see a woman driver fuming. With every delay, her head slumped dejectedly. At one point, a mom on the corner held us all up to take photos from every angle of her child mounting the steps of the bus. I saw the woman driver beating her forehead on the steering wheel in frustration.
Not me! I'm ecstatic. Those yellow buses signal the un-official but much-appreciated Holiday of Parenthood: the first day of school.
Our three boys will be starting right after Labor Day. At home, we've got everything ready. New clothes? Check. Pens, pencils, notebooks? Check. Schedules posted on the refrigerator door? Check.
Already, Collin has endured the rigors of freshman orientation at the high school. Our fourth-grader Robbie has completed his first assignment: What I Did on My Summer Vacation. Cade, a senior in high school, has started football practice. As for me and Diana, we're counting down the last few days to freedom!
Sure, we'll take a few moments to mourn the end of summer vacation. But by late August, we were getting weary of the endless days of kids lounging around the house, demanding snacks and entertainment. We'll be doing a happy dance once we see our kids onboard that school bus.
So here's an idea. Once the bus pulls away, celebrate your freedom with a shopping spree at FCG. We've got bargains galore this fall and lots of new furniture in our showrooms.
