A CANADIAN FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Parents prepared for the last month with new clothes, lunch boxes and knapsacks. The wise parents wait to buy everything as the teacher will send a list of what is needed at school. Grandparents often pitch in with a clothes item and some pocket money for the children. I learnt the hard way. One year I bought all the cute outfits my daughter wanted then her friends were wearing different clothes so she did not want to wear those clothes! Of course there are those first day of school pictures. I have a few of my girls. Cute and memorable! Although not a new year, it always feels like one. For children the year is September to June. College and University end in April. There is a funny sense of excitement in the air. Looking forward to seeing friends. Maybe starting a new school or going to High School for the first time. Traffic has returned with a vengeance! Luckily living close to work really helps with that part of the return! For workers, back to the normal. Meetings are back. No more coverage for fellow colleagues. Catching up on all the news. Bragging about who did more and went the farthest! I do not play this game. I had a good summer and that's that! I'll look forward to seeing my grandkiddies and back to school pictures. Hoping they will like their teachers. And their teachers will like them. Teachers do have pets and sometimes students they dislike! Human nature! My children had some great teachers but not all teachers are great. I even remember a couple I loved from my childhood. Excitement for the day but also little sad the summer is over. Yes I know not officially until September 22 but the lazy days are gone! First days can bring good days. So here's to all the children- enjoy your day then tell your waiting grandparents about it!

NANA SAYS GOODBYE SCHOOL, HELLO SUMMER VACATION

"No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers' dirty looks!" This was a favourite rhyme when I was a girl and finishing a school year. The end of year party and little presents for the teachers then the fun begun. Today with working mothers, the arrangements for summer camps and potential summer vacations have been planned. The lazy, hazy days of summer give an opportunity for everyone to regroup some energy. I used to take my girls to the beach or a local pool to consolidate any swimming lessons rather than taking classes over the summer. Bike riding and walking and some adventures with lots of craft supplies to take advantage of a slower pace were some of the activities. The outdoors gives such an opportunity for informal science lessons. Today we stay so plugged in to our gadgets! Perhaps put them aside for times during the day to help the little ones experience the world around them. For example, a cottage with a pelican catching fish is a perfect time to discuss and observe the natural world with grandchildren! It is just one example of capturing those moments that present themselves to us. I remember learning the names of birds and flowers and fish from the adults in my life. Hearing a bird chirp and trying to identify it can be an easy way to teach the little ones to listen to the world around them. My backyard right now has lots of raspberries growing. So my grandchildren will be picking fresh berries and learning to watch for bees and wasps as well as having fresh produce. Slowing down is good for adults too. Summer reading whether purchased books or library trips offer variety of reading possibilities. There is nothing more pleasurable than finishing a novel and starting another! Summertime and the living is Easy!