Old Schoolwork
Before I moved last August, while I was packing up the house, I spent an afternoon going through two large plastic bins full of art work and papers from both of my kids elementary school years. Over the years, the contents had gotten mixed up between the kids and in sorting them out, it gave me a chance to sit and reminisce over how quickly all of the years had gone and how special the time was.
I cried a lot and laughed a lot, reading the notes before they could spell, and remembering their interpretations of things. I found one note that had a quote from Peter that said “Michael Phelps smoked marinara”.
I didn’t write down much over the years, thinking that I’d remember things and also just not taking the time sadly. For this I hold regret, but am also thankful that I kept as much as I did. My big goal this winter was to scan all of the schoolwork and artwork, starting with Tommy’s bin and create a book with it all so that in case I decide not to keep the bin, I’ll still have everything in a more reasonable format. It feels like a huge project, but an important one. Since most everything I own is in a storage container right now, I didn’t get around to that project this winter, but in time I will. There’s no great rush at this point. For now, I have some pictures that I took of the pieces that really brought me joy last summer.
When Tommy was in 2nd grade they did a project that had to do with traveling around the world. I was able to share these with Tommy’s teacher from that year, Mrs. Hamrick, with whom I’m still in touch. It brought so much joy to me to go back and with the distance of years separating me from that time, see what an imagination he had.
Unfortunately, not everything was dated but he did love Chuck E. Cheese!
