Advent: School's Out

It's the last day of preschool this year, with classes not resuming until January. The kids don't quite understand, either the meaning of vacation or the length of time. They probably won't realize they haven't been to school until they go back in a few weeks.

They'll understand in a few years. Oh, the last day of school before Christmas break! I think it was more exciting than the last day of the whole year, if only because I enjoyed delivering gifts to my teachers and exchanging treats with some friends. Oftentimes, I even wore my Santa hat with pins all day long. In high school, it was quite an affair--with a bagfull of presents for friends and acquaintences, including extras in case I forgot anyone. Oh, the loot, the love. I can't remember classes those days--maybe Christmas crosswords? Or a movie of the book we'd been reading? Or just a free period of talking? Iced sugar cookies at lunch (oh, those cute, awful cookies have a place in my heart). Besides the excitement of the last day of school was the fact that school was out for 2 weeks (and 4 in college, but then, we had finals that last week and it wasn't nearly as exciting; not that I liked having finals in January in h.s. and having to do some work over the vacation, like evil science fair--the reason I dropped out of honors science) and it was going to be Christmas very soon.

And now I'm on the other end of the holiday vacation, one of the parents who count down until school starts again. Actually, I'm not counting, yet, if only because I don't want to know how few days I have left to pull off a clean house for my parents (ok, clean is out of the question; presentable is the standard), gifts for everyone (bought and wrapped!), a meal on Christmas and everyday before and after, Christmas cards to about 100 people, AND entertaining the kiddos while I do it. Oh, and the wedding. Except that's done (and as I've said repeatedly, it's a small, casual affair, Mom, nothing to get worked up about, despite my new dress and a cake. That's it, see? Dad can wear khakis and doesn't need a tie. And Aunt H, gift or no gift, your choice, no worries).

I love the holidays and so today, with the kids delivering gifts to their teachers, I was transported back to my last days of school before Christmas, and so we went to celebrate with lunch, even if they didn't really understand why. They will.