I always feel melancholy when this day arrives. Today was the first day of school for my three children. For us, summer has always been a blessed respite from the relentless daily grind of homework and whip-cracking that happens during the school year. The long, slothy days filled with music, books, play, and daydreaming are over now. Even before the actual start of school, my oldest boy was doing lengthy summer reading and writing assignments that were due today.

The two boys are at the same school for the first time in years. It’s my 14 year old’s first year of high school.

For the first time in forever, all three kids are on the same bus and on the same schedule!

Obligatory first day of school photo.

Here we go again…