As long as I didn’t watch Alice Cooper sing, I was okay. But honestly, hangin’ with boys like him in the summer was a bit of a creepy thought back in the early 80s when the song Schools Out For Summer was a big end-of-school favorite.
Not sure what song marks the end of school these days. But I do know that my seven-year-old knows the key lines from this song, Schools out for summer, Schools out forever. That’s probably good enough. The rest of the lyrics don’t exactly have an Elementary School focus.
While I digressed on that song, I’m really here to rejoice on Payton’s last day of first grade, which was today. She woke up a good thirty minutes early, ready to close the chapter on her big year. With an extra skip in her step, we managed to leave the house in time to buy flowers at the grocery store for her teacher and grab a celebratory Starbucks hot cocoa.
I think her big high for today partially was fueled by yesterday, where she sang a solo at the all-school assembly. Her proud parents were there, standing in the back, snugged up against the wall behind the sixth graders. At only 9:30 in the morning the word “gamey” came to mind within about 60 seconds of all 500+ plus plopping their butts on the comfy gym floor.
Payton sang beautifully, despite the rising temperatures and the increasing adolescent stench wafting from the back rows. I’ll admit, after her slight word misstep in last week’s recital, my stomach was dancing some sort of jagged jig. But, no worries. Unlike her pathetic mom, my daughter had gotten over her small recital glitch after a good night’s sleep, like any professional would.
While I don’t remember much about first grade, I do remember what it felt like to be recognized in front of your peers. Last night night she said to me, “mom, now everyone at school knows my name.” Now that made my heart go pitter patter.
Along with the honor of being chosen to perform, Payton also received a certificate for perfect attendance. I guess I’m a bit oblivious about this one. I thought most everyone sends their kids to school everyday except in the case of severe vomiting or matter coming from the other end just as often. And, unfortunately for Payton I suppose, she doesn’t get sick, so it’s day after day of school. I was surprised there were only seven kids out of the entire school who received perfect attendance. Perhaps I’m way more anal than I ever gave myself credit for being. Probably not a good thing.
Well, here’s the deal, school’s out for summer so Payton is free to miss the next two and half months of school!
Payton proudly displaying her portfolio from her year, along with her Perfect Attendance Certificate. Second grade here we come!
