School Has Started!

If not yet for you, it soon will. Yes, it’s still August, but in Texas, school begins this month.

Over the years we’ve endured battles over the date for schools to begin and end. The Texas State Legislature bent to the powers of commerce and passed a law stating districts couldn’t begin earlier than the 3^rd Monday of August. It was something of a compromise. The entertainment businesses didn’t want kids and parents going back to school this month because they’d lose money. (Such a great reason to make a decision about school starting!)

School districts wanted to begin earlier to give more time for test preparation for kids and to counteract knowledge loss when kids are out for so long in the summer. Secondary schools like to get the first semester in before Christmas.

I’m surprised we even got the compromise. The majority of Texas Legislators are not known for making decisions in the interest of public education or local control. (As a former school board member, I’m all about local control. )

Normally this time of year, my dreams are racked by nightmares from my years as a substitute teacher. I don’t know where the school is. I get there and can’t find the room. I can’t find the materials I’m supposed to use. (This did actually happen, more times than I like to say. As a principal, I tried to make sure that didn’t happen to my substitutes, who are invaluable to schools.) Sometimes, those dreams would pull from my theatre background, and I’d be in a play, but not know the lines or where I was supposed to move. Stress dreams. I’ve been retired for 8 years, but this is the first August I’ve not been swamped with these types of dreams. A few, but not every single night for July and August!

Must be because of all the new things in my life right now. I’ve written about the lakehouse and will more.  Just this last weekend, the grands spent the afternoon jumping from the boat dock into the water, climbing the ladder, and repeating.  Looked just like the opening pictures on the HGTV show Lake Front Bargain Hunt. We’re waiting to hear from the contractors with the drawings for the renovations.

Very exciting.

Just a hint about another new venture I’ve joined Sisters of Suspense, a group of 16 romantic suspense authors who’ve formed a joint blog.  Amazing how much has happened in just one week. My first post will be Friday, August 28. I hope you will stop by and follow the blog and check out the other authors, who write a variety of romantic suspense. More about this in later posts.

My oldest grand is in first grade this year, the younger two are still in a pre-school–one a church related program and the youngest in a Montessori program. Do you have much choice in your district? Fort Worth ISD (getting a brand new superintended this fall) has quite a bit. Many opportunities to tailor your child’s education. While good districts, schools, teachers, principals, administrators, librarians, nurses, bus drivers, custodians, and cafeteria workers & yes substitute teachers all contribute to a great education, IMHO, the most important ingredient is for a child to have an involved parent. Schools can do it without, but gosh it’s so much harder!

Have your kids/grandkids begun school yet? Do they go to private, public, a charter school, or are they home-schooled? Large district? Small? Urban? Rural? How are you spending the last of your summer? Love to hear from you.

Weight Update: Started back on Nutrisystem on Monday. What a relief. I’ve stop gaining and have begun loosing again. Three pounds already! Whew! Just weekday menus. Weekends I’m on my own.

Book Update: Print copies of TRUTH BE TOLD arrived!

EAST TEXAS BOOK FEST Saturday, Aug. 22, I’ll be there with 100 other Texas authors. If you’re in the Tyler, Texas vicinity, please stop by. I’ll have all three books in print available. Love to see you.