After-School Traditions MOM
Today was one of my last virtual work-from-home Wednesday’s for maybe, ever. Yes, I know it is Tuesday. There was a local election so our schedule for Tuesday and Wednesday of this week flipped.
I took time for myself this afternoon after our virtual staff meeting and stopped working after school. As I do everyday after school, I called my mom. She knows all about my fifth graders and everything else. She really rocks.
After that, I had a bit of extra time as I had already gotten a morning workout in. So, I watched an episode of Hoda and Jenna that was recorded this morning. It’s one of my favorite weeknight traditions, when time allows.
I started to think about all the after-school traditions that I’ve had over the years. When I was in elementary school, I would race home to call my Grandma and share the day’s events with her. Word for word of my day at school, I would fill her in and she would lovingly listen. Afterwards, if there was time before a practice or activity, I would sit with my mom as we watched Oprah together. There was always popcorn or chips and salsa in-between.
When I was in middle-school, chips and salsa or popcorn still remained a constant. What changed was I would immediately start doing my homework at the kitchen counter. I can picture my mom saying, “do you really have to do your work on the counter? I’m trying to cook and clean and your stuff will get dirty.” I told her I didn’t like working in quiet spaces. If I were to guess, I am sure she wouldn’t ask me to live the kitchen counter if I came home now to do work.
When I was in high school and before I could drive, my mom would meet me in the high school parking lot with a bagel toasted with peanut butter and most often my hockey bag or field hockey equipment as she would drive me from school to practice. We would share about our days. Yes, she is GOATED for doing this- no freshman wanted to have to find a space in school for their hockey bag.
When I was in college, I would always call my mom on my way home from class – even if it was a night class. It was our tradition.
When I was working and living at home, I would be sure to leave school in time to meet my mom for an after school Barre class on Monday’s, Wednesday’s, and Friday’s. She would save me a spot next to her at the barre as I would be racing in, milli-seconds before the instructor would ask everyone to meet her in the center of the room.
When I started writing this post, I thought it was going to be about after-school traditions and how they’ve changed throughout the years. I am realizing that what’s remained constant in all of them, is my Mom. I love and miss you, Mom. I will see you this weekend.
Allie Writes 
I love the transition of how you started to write about one thing and it changed to something else. Thank you for keeping it this way and allowing us to see your process!
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Ah the power of writing and freewriting. You better share this with your mom, and it would also be a great piece to share and teach from, showing the students the power of discovery through writing.
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Your post reminded me of something important. It’s not about the food we eat or the rituals we perform, it’s about the person who is near us through it all. In both of our cases, it was our mothers. Yay for moms being our rocks!
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