On Coming Home

     "How was your break?  Two snow days!!  Kids happy to be back?  Love your haircut!"    Such went the banter this week as we trudged up THE STAIRS (is it possible there's more steps since December?  feels like it...) and introduced routine back into our lives.  I, for one, was not eager about giving up the lazy days of holiday break.  I loved having all the kids at home:  the baking, the games, the laughter and yelling, actual conversations with my middle schoolers, late night movies and snuggles by the fire, and all-day-pajama-wearing.  The busy-ness of the back to school routine didn't feel like an even exchange.
    
      We were all into our third hug by the time we reached our upper campus destination.  The inevitable karma of Pathfinder sought me out and warmed me from my toes to my heart as I sat back and thought about our first hour back.   Shane, the middle school science teacher, had crossed the snowy parking lot to yank three heavy backpacks out of the rear of our car and hoist them onto the little ones.  We passed by Mrs. Iott, elementary science teacher, lugging a cooler with Olga the turtle back to her classroom habitat.  In kindergarten, while my son Glenn got his construction groove on and began crafting a football-goal-turned-teepee out of old paint stir sticks and duct tape, I ran my fingers across the handmade woolen rug completed by the kids piece by piece this fall.  Amazing.  Vienna was received by her pre-k teacher, Trisha Short, in a swirling embrace.  (She promptly returned the love by launching about a pound of birdseed freely into the classroom while apparently exploring the concept of torque with a sand shovel.  In typical fashion, Trisha calmly responded with an affirming "that IS a cool action.  We'll sweep it up later.")

      On the way down THE STAIRS, I thought about how, in 15 minutes time, the kids and I had had an up close and personal interaction with no less than eight teachers.  And that's a pretty ordinary morning for us at Pathfinder.   I thought about how from the moment they arrive on campus in the morning to the goodbye waves at dismissal, my children are surrounded by a veritable team of unusually devoted, talented, and caring adults.  Getting back into the routine wasn't going to be so bad after all.  At Pathfinder, walking back into the classroom feels much like coming home.

- Tricia Moore, parent of 5 current Pathfinder students

Ariana, 8th grade
Sierra, 7th grade
Mariah, 2nd grade
Glenn, kindergarten
Vienna, pre-k