Last week, my kids went back to school.  I know…very early this year!  August 15th!  Something about getting the first semester wrapped up before winter break.  Or maybe wanting an extra week of teaching before state mandated achievement tests.  In any event, they went back.

And I was traveling on business.  Bummer.

As posted previously, we had already enjoyed the traditions of new clothes shopping and school supply shopping.  And it’s not like it was the first day of school as in first day of kindergarten.  But I still missed it.  I missed the super extra bath the night before.  I missed checking the backpack fifteen times.  I missed debating whether or not they should buy lunch or pack lunch.  I missed scrounging around in my purse for enough money to buy lunch.  Thanks to technology, I didn’t miss helping to pick the perfect first day outfit.  My older daughter texted me options and I voted from my hotel room.

I kept asking my husband if he needed me to make him lists and he kept reassuring me “I’ve got it”.  I knew he did but didn’t want to hear that.  I wanted to be there and I wanted to be needed.  Perhaps that’s why he texted late that night to confirm what time each needed child needed to get up and when each of their schools started.  Thank you for needing me.

I called home that morning, timing my call such that they should be up and mostly finished with breakfast but not quite in the chaotic 5 minutes before they are out the door, to wish everyone well and then went off to my meeting.

As we settled around the conference table, opening laptops and stirring coffee, I mentioned that it was my children’s first day of school.  My female colleague made a sad face and said sympathetic things like “you poor darling” and generally gave words of encouragement.  The men across the table smiled and said something along the lines of “bet you’re happy not to be there”.  And such is the difference between mothers and men.