My two children are toddlers (2 and 3) so the back to school frenzy doesn’t really apply to our children, however, my husband is a teacher so it applies to our family. I’m starting to prep my kids in going back to the sitter full time. I’m also stocking up on art supplies at every store I go into due to the major sales going on. With fall and the start of school fast approaching, one tradition almost all moms try to do is get a picture of their child on the first day during the first semester of school.
Let’s be real for a second, there are a lot of moms who pull off the first day of school picture but don’t feel bad if it takes you all semester to grab a shot. You should be proud that you actually grabbed a shot at all. So don’t forget to give yourself a pat on the back when you do. That’s a moment to be proud of as a mom.
While the first day of school picture is fun (and a must for me and so many other moms), I’m adding in a new layer this year. In addition to the first day back picture, I’m interviewing my little one.
An interview is a fun and interactive way to capture what your child is into and is a glimpse into that little mind of theirs (and it’s a lot faster than writing in any baby book #momfail). An interview can also take place during a car ride or over the course of multiple car rides so it’s more conducive to the busy mom schedules. Add a little more personal touch and catch them answering questions on video. The way kids say things with a certain expression is sometimes the best thing to document.
Below is a back to school interview with sample questions to ask your children. As we all know kids say the funniest things, I’d love to hear some of your child’s answers if you are willing to share in the comments. I’d also love to know about any back to school traditions you and your child have.
I recently had a conversation with one mom about how at the start of every year, she decorates a terra cotta planter with her daughter and plants a tiny houseplant in it. Through the course of the year, they both watch the plant grow and establish it’s roots. She even discussed how this year she is decorating the planter with fabric and emphasizing smoothing out all the wrinkles and using that action as a metaphor for the beginning of a new chapter in life. Oh how I love the symbolism. #cuethetears
I should have clarified. None of these questions have to do anything with school but I am trying to capture the state of my little one’s brain at this current stage of his life. As he grows and matures, so will his answers. What he wants to be today may not what he wants to be when he grows up. Same with heaven. His view of heaven today is different than what it will be next year or the year after.