Back To School Part I
I love that commercial. As you may have guessed, I'm not a weepy parent. I'm a very proud parent, but I don't tear up when my kids go back to school. I dance.
Today was the first day back at school for Her Majesty, and believe me she was dancing as well. She's been asking when she could go back to school the day after school ended in December, and today was the day.
She made me set her alarm for 6:30 this morning - not unusually early as this is when we wake them up to get ready to go on a normal work morning (we leave just after 7am). She bounded out of bed, tore into her closet to get her new school uniform shirt and begged Miss Thing to brush her hair as I wasn't quite dressed myself. And then it happened...
Nits. Or for the Americans in the audience, head lice.
Go ahead, give a shiver and scratch your head now.
Nits, as head lice are commonly referred to here, are the bane of a Queenslander parent's existence. I don't know a single parent here who hasn't had to battle the little fuckers, and nobody looks at you as if you live in a hovel or are a neglectful parent when you mention your kids have them. Notices come home regularly from school that a child in the class has them and could you please check yours? I keep a bottle of tea tree oil conditioner that I use on Her Majesty once a week as a preventative, and am well versed in the conditioner method of detection. I can only guess Her Majesty picked them up at vacation care.
The poor little thing was upset at the thought that she'd miss her first day of school and tears were already flowing before I could say anything else. Never fear, Her Majesty, you won't even be late! And damned if she wasn't as we treated, shampooed, conditioned and combed in under an hour.
It did throw my whole morning off, however. I had to fight with Clive to get him dressed, nearly forgot Her Majesty's hat and did forget her water bottle. But she made it on time, dammit, with a huge smile on her face too. In fact she barely said goodbye to me after we got her supplies sorted out and it was time for me to leave. When I picked her up this afternoon she was just as happy - a bit worse for wear as it has been scorching outside and her classroom isn't air conditioned, but grinning from ear to ear.
Part II tomorrow as Sparky heads out for his first day at Senior School (Years 10-12) at his usual high school.
It's the most wonderful time of the year...
PS - I will have pictures tomorrow or Friday.
6 Witty Remarks:
Really, the school doesn't have AC? I can't imagine it, especially considering your summers.
Also, I love the way school starts in January -- the beginning of the year. Too bad things don't make sense like that in the U.S.
Why is it that so many children down your way get nits? It's not something I would expect.
I would guess that the warmer weather in Oz is what makes nits so common. They are a pain but fortunately not all that dangerous. Treating the head isn't so bad, but washing all the bed clothes, etc. is a real pain.
It's great that she loves school. Please be sure to get those pictures in.
It is insane that not every school has air con here in Brisbane. A lot of private schools do, but not the public ones. Don't get me started on how the private school system gets as much if not more tax money that the state ones... Her Majesty's class is on an upper level this year, and by the end of the day there was a nice breeze so between that and the ceiling fans going 100 miles an hour it was okay.
And I think the nits are such a problem our way because of the heat and the preponderance of hats, but that's just my non-scientific theory. I don't know of other states like NSW and Victoria have similar issues.
I will admit to doing a little happy dance this morning :-) It's been lovely alllllll day lol
Nits are just something we all deal with. More common with younger children due to them climbing all over each other.
Air conditioning is a luxury for schools and to install in every room would cost a fortune and probably mean rewiring the entire school. I know what you mean about state and private schools and their government funding. Don't get me started either! So no fair. Further north are all air con. I guess it will travel down in time....
I love school holidays. I do! I never used to when they were small but you see, I had my three in three years so life was hard at first but is now pretty easy. I love the no routine or activities during the holidays. I can't wait for the next ones!
Mine were all pretty keen to get back there though.
Well done on the quick treatment so Her Majesty could make her first day. I feel your pain!
We got really lucky. We didn't have our first case of lice until just last fall when my daughter got them. That's 18+ years w/out the little buggers.
Of course we live in MN and what creature can thrive around here.
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