The New Rules of School

6 a.m.: The first day of school and I was awoken by two little fingers prying my eyelids apart, wondering if it was time to get on the bus yet. He was fully dressed, though his shorts were on backwards and raring to go.

I, on the other hand, could have used a few more minutes. A cyclone of activity was about to ensue as we had about 40 minutes to get three boys dressed, fed and out the door to their respective schools. My focus was on the bus schedule and making that bus. The race was on.

For all my anxiety of the actual moment of the bus pulling up and he getting on, my moment to freak out never had a chance to reach fruition.

I was lucky not to get caught in the crosshairs of the wind and his tracks as he made a beeline to board that bus. The only thing slowing him down was his overweight backpack, filled to the brim with day one necessities.

Barely a second glance was tossed my way. Then, as the bus started to pull away, we saw his little hand above a tinted window, waving goodbye. It was the sweetest thing I've ever seen.

About five hours later, we met that same bus back on the corner; day one in the bag. He was smiling and full of excitement.

When we asked about his first day, all he wanted to talk about were the new rules. He loved telling us, his brothers, his action figures, all about the card system. Green card you are listening, yellow card is a warning and red card means five minutes out with no playtime.

You really don't want a red card he reiterated again and again. By far, this was the best card trick I've ever learned. Not only did he adhere to these new rules, he craved them. A new social order was beginning to form in his head and it was one he felt compelled to follow.

As a bonus for us, he also felt compelled to get his little brothers in on the rules. I have never loved a teacher more. In a house where on a good day I feel as if a tsunami has hit, these little cards are making for a happy mom.

Week one was a whirlwind. Two half days and two very exhausted boys later, a new order seems to be forming. I am very aware we are in the honeymoon stage.

Catch me next Monday when one half day and four full days of school later, I am trying to tame the meltdown beast with some very overtired boys.

Just to keep me in check when I asked my kindergartner how he felt about being a little man now in the big school he replied, "Uhh mom, I'm still a boy. I don't even have a wife yet."

His mind is a constant wonder to me. As my little man so deftly reminded me, it's only the beginning, so don't jump too far ahead and enjoy the wonder of what is.