getting ready...

School starts in just three days, and the question everybody seems to be asking and answering is: "Are your kids ready?"

That is not in ANY way the same as "Are your kids excited, looking forward to it, emotionally prepared."

It means one thing: do they have all their ducks in a row.  Will they be able to start Monday or not.

Registered?  Uniform?  All books?  Ribbons?  Shoes?  Backpack?

Most everyone is answering "not quite.  Maybe we'll send them in a few more weeks."

Whether Lily is American-ready or not, we will see.  But she IS Haitian ready.  

Her name is embroidered on all her uniforms, though Googling "How do I embroider my kid's name?" resulted in many stranger-danger warnings that you should NOT.  That would be an American thing.  

Her name is on, and this morning, she gleefully washed them all with Gertha.   Then, this afternoon, we worked on her "uniform" hair do, which is required to be like this, or in five braids.  

No one needed to tell Lily she looked darling.  She was SO EXCITED, and kept gushing, "I feel BEAUTIFUL.  All the other girls wear their hair like this at church, and I'm doing the same as them!  We're matching.  Oh.  I am beautiful."

It was so cute.

Frankly, I'm not sure how I'm going to have time for all of this and to drive her to school and be back in time to teach myself.

Watching Lily in her mirror for the first time and smile at herself was the BEST.  I wish that somehow we could protect that chip in our children that tells them they are beautiful and smart and fun and loved.  

When did we all start looking in the mirror and thinking, "Uh. Oh well!"

Ready or not in any culture...the time has come!