This morning I was back to waking up to the sound of my alarm going off at the hour of six a.m., which is not a time I have seen in awhile. Today is the first day of the new school year.

In preparation yesterday, we laid out new clothes for all eight of my kids that were heading off to school this year. We have Maggie and Amanda starting Kindergarten, Shane and Ben starting second grade, Des and Ryan starting fourth grade, Nathan starting sixth grade and Mercy starting seventh grade, which is her first year in middle school (or "junior high" as she prefers to call it).

Along with the new clothes, we laid out new sneakers (their summer sneakers were looking ROUGH), we packed up backpacks and checked off lists of requested school supplies from their teachers (got to love Staples.com!) We also went up to the Back to School night to drop off the aforementioned school supplies, meet all of the teachers and help all of the kids find their classrooms.

We got home, had a family dinner and got everyone bathed and in bed by 8 p.m., which is our usual school year bedtime, but not one they have seen in quite awhile, thanks to the relaxed pace of summer time.

This morning there was lots of excitement and activity, compounded by the fact that it is also Ben's seventh birthday today (more on that in my next post). They were so excited for school that I didn't even have to wake up Nathan, Ryan or Shane. All three were waiting excitedly in their beds when I went down to "wake them up".

Breakfast was eaten, new clothes were put on, teeth were brushed, new shoes were tied up, pictures were taken, Mom, Marcus and Belane were kissed and they were all on their way out the door.

It is very, very quiet here.

With all of the preparation that goes in to "back to school" for parents, adoptive parents have even a little bit more preparation to do. Along with talking about school manners, being responsible for homework, being kind to all of the kids and the other things I talk with my kids about for school, we also had some talks about racism and handling adoption questions.

These are topics that we will revisit throughout the year, and I plan on helping my kids give presentations to their classes on adoption and/or the country they were born in as well.

Just in time for back to school, Adoptive Families Magazine has put together a great resource for adoptive families. It is the Adoption and School Guide, and it is full of resources for parents. It has everything from articles, advice and ideas to print-outs to give to your child's teacher, and tons of things to help you prepare your child for back to school. Enjoy this great resource!

More posts on adoption and school:

Starting a New School Year

Schooling and Adoption - Part One

Schooling and Adoption - Part Two

Adoption ABCs - School