“Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses.” The legendary NBA player Kobe Bryant’s words still inspire student athletes since he passed. This August, we continued cautious back to school rituals with workbooks, new haircuts and supplies. Just as toilet paper sold out a year-and-a-half ago, grocers and stores now run low on school lunch drinks and uniform supplies. We reinforce and practice good choices in line with public health recommendations and precautions.

2021 Our Lady Mount Carmel Academy

Although we may fumble, we strive to do our best. We channel calm among competing priorities. Our boys also learn to take peaceful action in school. “Anger that is motivated by compassion or a desire to correct social injustice, and does not seek to harm the other person, is a good anger that is worth having” – Dalai Lama.

Youngest son on Cape Cod Whale watch

Kindness and compassion are also cornerstones to succeed in the classroom and support each other. We learn to get along with different work styles. We strive to give others space they need. We also embrace what brings others joy. My boys share their Dad’s love of the Green Bay Packers. We visited their Lambeau Field stadium in June.

We celebrated my sister-in-law and brother-in-law’s 50th summer birthday bash in Wisconsin. That evening, our boys also cheered on the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA championship series. My husband reunited on stage with his buddies in the band to sing, “Mrs. Robinson” to his sister. When the band broke, our boys led the crowd cheers as the Bucks won.

Happy birthday, Aunt Gina!

The boys also played at the beach in Michigan with my parents, brother, sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew. My husband and Dad kayaked with us. Fast forward to another tradition, my parents toasted the summer sunset in Massachusetts.

Boys attend my parents’ [and ours] parish school

My sister and I walked the beach with our children.

Blue moon sunset

Our oldest persuaded me to swim the cold North Atlantic Ocean with him. My parents joined. It felt glorious to swim in at least six feet of open salt water under a blue moon. The four life guards watched us from where the water broke.

Active rest

The week before school started, we flew out of Boston a day early and step ahead of the storm. My sister advocated and secured our family pass upon 6:00 a.m. arrival.

2021 School Year

We prepare and plan to minimize stress and chaos. We keep checklists to organize and monitor homework with calendared school and work events. Our boys’ school choir also instills discipline and firm boundaries for children to thrive. To our delight, our boys will resume choir soon after the CDC mandated pandemic hiatus. Best wishes for a safe, sane, and healthy school year! XOXO