Still Working on the New Game Called School

In November, I wrote about trying to figure out our new life as a family with a school-aged child.  I feel like I am still getting my feet under myself regarding the school routine.

It feels good, though, fumbling toward figuring it out.  I started walking Tucker to school in the last few weeks, which has been good in every single way.  It's a little over a mile away, which is totally doable for Tucker and it gives me nearly 2.5 miles to get a little workout on.  I am convinced I have to get in shape.... I am so very weak.  To the point that it's hard to be a mother and lift and swing and hold.

I also think the walk is good for my high-energy little boy.  I wonder what a few miles a week will do for him.  Will it impact his attention span?  Will it calm him down?  Will it make him a better reader? Or artist?  It might.

The walk is good for our relationship, too, I think.  It's an extra 45 minutes in the morning where we can interact.  (That's roughly 30 minutes walking, plus 15 minutes longer at home versus catching the bus.) That's a lot of time, considering that when he rides the bus, he's gone for 8 hours a day.   That means that the walk is 10% less time that he's at school.  The afternoons and evenings go by in a blur, usually, which even further makes those 45 morning minutes important to me.

The only problem with the walk is the final .2 miles.... there are no sidewalks into the school.  Thankfully, there is a police officer who stops traffic for us to cross a big country road, but, man, entering the school property is high stakes.  Drivers don't expect a walker.... I have not seen a single person walk their kid to school there, even though there are several neighborhoods close by.  I can only assume that people don't want to risk fighting the traffic as a pedestrian.

Leaving the school, Calvin in stroller, Razor scooter and helmet in basket.

But, it's worth it.

Somehow, it's also made me feel more involved in school,  though I don't even enter the building. I am glad to have the visual of Tucker dart off to his class, and I have even seen Calvin's teacher from his Mom's Day Out, as she drops her daughter off.  I love that!  It's nice to feel a little more community-minded, especially since I live in the least community-minded community in the whole Birmingham area.  At least, that's how it seems to me.

Oh, one more little thing about the walk...   Tucker has complained that riding his Razor scooter that far makes him tired.  He needs a lot of breaks, and he usually gives me some lip when I tell him that it's a Walking Day (maybe 3 times a week).  I don't think he's being defiant, I think that his 6:00 a.m. bowl of Cheerios isn't sticking with him.  I don't love the idea (yet) of getting up extra early to make a big breakfast, so I had the idea of boiling some eggs tonight.  I'll peel them and put them in a Tucker-accessable dish in the fridge so he can help himself to an egg or two, in addition to his cereal.  I can't decide if this is genius or lazy.  Might be both.

So, we're adding walking and eggs to the routine.  I hope to stick with the walking, for sure.  As for the eggs, we'll see how if it makes a difference.  It can't hurt.