Oh yay its Friday
No more school for you
You must be so happy
Oh no its Monday
Back to school
Here we go again
Get it together
Will ya
Aren’t you so excited
School is over
You get the entire summer
To have a wonderful
Free
Fun time
Playing
Being a kid
Again
Yay… No more school
Oh no
Two more weeks
Until school starts again
I hate the lines in the stores
Having to buy your supplies
Why do I have to buy these supplies
This is so frustrating
Where did the summer go
When did you grow
Out of last years clothes
The stores are so crowded
With back to school
Annoyed
Parents
Trying to get things together
Generally at the last minute
Complaining all of the way
Ugh… summer went by too fast
Can you hustle up
Get moving
Let’s get this done with
Already
You better start going to sleep earlier
I know it stinks
But it is what it is
School starts soon
You have to adjust
Follow the rules
Suffer
Oh you poor thing
Back in school already
Was your summer too short
You must be so bummed
To be back
At school
When is your next break
Words are powerful
Consciously and unconsciously
Painting pictures
In our imaginations
About what we should be
Doing
Feeling
Following
Being
Words create direction
Helping to form our
Dreams
Inspiration
Imagination
Possibility
Words form relationships
Between what we like
What we dislike
How we should be
In one situation
Over the other
What is seen
What is heard
What is felt
All form the inner world
Of our kiddos
Minds
As they follow our lead
They take on our opinions
Our judgments
Our narratives
So think about it
What are we training them
To think
Feel
Want
Reject
About school
With the words we choose
Why does it then bother us
When they complain
In ways that mirror
What we’ve taught
Why do we then
Get upset
About their difficulties
Getting it together
When they struggle
So hard
To be motivated
To go toward
Something we have said
Repeatedly
That they should
Bemoan
Do we even think about
What we are saying
Or is it common
A habit
A way of joining
An old conversation
With others
What would it be like
Instead
If we said
Oh yay its Friday
Tell me about your week
Do you need help with anything
To better support you
For school next week
I am so excited for you
All right
Let’s go
It’s Monday
I wonder what you will do
This week
Who you will see
Play with
Create with
Aren’t you so excited it is summer
We have so many things to do
Tell me
About this school year
Which subject was your favorite
What did you like the most about your teacher
What were your favorite moments
What kinds of things do you think
You will get to do next year
Because I know
Next year is going to be
Just awesome for you
Alright
School starts
In two weeks
How do you feel
About going back
Seeing your friends
I wonder who
Your teacher will be
We have a lot to prepare for
What kinds of supplies do you need
Where should we go
I can’t believe you are
Grade level higher
I’m just so excited for you
Guess what happens
When we change our view
Our words
Our intent
Our children
Become happier
They feel safer
They are more present
They care
About the outcome
Of what they do
How they show up
Because they know you
Want them in a place
That is good
That has so much to offer
That is helping them
Grow
They become great students
At school
At life
As they learn to see
Through your eyes
As they learn to speak
With your words
About the things
That matter most
They are able to show up
More completely
Ready to take on the day
And all that is
Summer is approaching
It is a separate subject
From school
One has nothing
To do
With the other
They both
Offer equal
Opportunities
For fun
Expansion
Education
Relationship building
In different ways
Help them find
The gifts
In both
Let’s begin now
To set them up
For future success
By speaking
Highly of all they have done
All they have gained
All they have become
This last year
Help them find the gifts
They are there
Let’s begin now
To paint the picture
Of all that will be coming
All they have the chance
To learn and gain
When they return
From their
Summer vacation
Words are powerful
Especially the ones
That come from
You
