The Switch

We have arrived.


It's the last week of summer vacation. Yesterday we went school supply shopping. All three of my kids are decked out in new backpacks and sneakers. Fresh hair cuts have taken away the too long, sun bleached, slightly chlorine green look we sported the past two months.


Their teacher assignments arrived last week, so now instead of aimlessly thinking of upcoming school days they can put a face and classroom in the picture.


My baby is off to kindergarten. In all the preparations for back to school, which means a lot to a D family, I don't want him to be lost in the shuffle. I have a meeting set for Wednesday with Grace's teacher, assistant, school nurse, head of nursing for the district, principle, and gym teacher. There's a lot to do to send her back to school and have her cared for properly for 6 hours every day. Supplies to bring in, refresher courses in glucagon and insulin pen usage, instructions on how, when, and why to correct highs and lows. When they need to contact me, and when they should treat her and send her back to class.


It's a lot, and it's scary, and I'm worried for her.


But there's also Little Brother. He's young for his grade, so I'm worried for him, too. Is he ready? Will it be too much for him?


And what about Little Sister? She's smart, personable, and has lots of friends, so I'm not concerned with her starting school. But should I be? I don't want something with her to fall through the cracks while I'm busy stressing over Grace and Little Brother.

It's raining today, and the switch in my brain has flipped from summer to school. The worry has started.

Summer's over.