first day of 8th, 5th & 1st!

 elle started her last year of middle school.

jude started his last year of elementary school.

harvey somehow started 1st grade.

i remember when we walked elle to her first day of 6th grade- we looked at the 8th graders who, of course, seemed so old. and today she sent me a photo with her girlfriends... just exactly where we saw the giant 8th graders.

jude started at his school in pre-k, which makes this his 7th first day there... how, i don't know, but here we are.

it felt like it was 900 degrees this morning when we took the boys; the drop-off yard was chaos. elle ran off with here friends early this morning and basically forgot we existed (after being particularly clingy and needy and teenager-y yestrday). 

what a time warp. 

here we go!

first day of 7th, 4th & kindergarten!

it's a miracle. we all survived summer break. 

this year was a liiiiiitle touch-and-go, 

buuuut 3/3 kids are back at 2 (not 3!) schools, and we. are. all. so. HAPPY!

the first day of 7th, 4th, and kindergarten is in the books.

harvey has elle's old kindergarten teacher, and the fact that elle is now in 7th grade, and harvey wasn't even around when she played on the same little k playground makes me feel really wiggly and old. that's a lot of years in the books! cheers to another. xx

last day of 6th, 3rd & pre-k!

today, monday, june 27th (A MONDAY), we are closing the books on another school year. and this one most definitely FLEW. BY.

(their first day here.)

we survived 3 kids at 3 different schools, and with the exception of a single day, mike was able to work from home the entire school year. having him at drop off/pick up 90% of the time was so special, and we're so aware what a gift it's been. navigating life is always tricky, but the handful of days i had off work, or mike took off work with me, were gifts to us as a couple, and individually. it was the start of a new chapter in life, and part of me is just in utter shock we're still in new york city, with 3 (now) elementary school-ers (elle was in kinergarten when we moved here! just like harvey will be)!

harvey didn't shed a single tear going to class ever. he loved his teachers, his class, and his friends. at pre-k graduation his teacher (ms. shannon) gave him the "master of catchphrases" award for teaching the entire class constant catchphrases he picked up from his brother, dad, and youtube, which most likely horrified all the other parents. (sorryyyy!) there were some DOOZIES.

jude's 3rd grade year was his best he's had thus-far. he had elle's old 3rd grade teacher- ms. tracey, which was the biggest blessing. we knew her, she knew us, and we know how much of an advocate she was for structure and consistency. she was just what he needed, especially coming off a year of being remote, filled with nervousness, and being the only petersen at his school thanks to that stellar clerical error that landed harvey at a private UPK program). lesson learned: things work out just how they need to. his independence blows me away, and his smartness has absolutely surpassed my own. 

elle gained independence and grace for her first middle school year. 6th grade just sounds terrifying to me, but she was brave and wonderful. she made all new friends, became an incredible runner, and gained more & more independence as the year went on. she learned social navigation, and the evolution of making,  developing, and sometimes releasing friendships. although i was totally digging the daily levain/dunkin donut runs with her & mike, she eventually saved us and our budget, and walked to/from school each day like a perfectly independent tween.  

we made it. 

happy summer break!

THE 1ST DAY OF (ALL MY BABIES BEING IN) SCHOOL!

After 18 months together every single day, and for the first time ever… all 3 of my babies are in school— 6 hours/day, 5 days a week: Pre-k, 3rd, & 6th. Everyone is at a different school (HEAVEN HELP ME), each apart after what feels like a lifetime all together. My heart aches and my mind is worried, but I’m so proud of them for being the raddest, bravest, best kids I could ask for. 

Today is an ending and a beginning and a middle.

Everyone went without tears (and I'm happy to report was picked up with a similar lack of tears).

Also, it took 90 minutes to get everyone dropped off, so let’s hope we get into the swing of efficiency sooner rather than later.