Countdown…
Our headlines are written in chalk, scribbled across a mini-blackboard in the kitchen. Birthdays, holidays, special events and noteworthy accomplishments generally make it on to the slate (with an appropriate number of exclamation marks!!!) along with the occasional work of chalk art.
When I set the little easel on our kitchen island a few years ago, it was with no expectations for its use. The kids defined its purpose by what they elected to scrawl across its surface, making it a virtual barometer of our focus of the moment.
Birthday countdowns always make it onto the chalkboard. Days until vacation? Absolutely. Proclamations of football wins and soccer tournament victories? Definitely. But the board has never displayed a “don’t forget” or “Buy milk;” reminders and “to do” lists remain relegated to the sticky notes and index cards they’ve always been written on.
Our little chalkboard is not meant for the mundane.
For the past month or so, it’s held a running tally of remaining school days. We’re in single digits now, enthusiasm growing with each erasure. I share the kids’ thrill as summer begins its 
lazy stretch into June and beyond, even as I’m calculating how to juggle the necessities of my work and the needs of my children.
I’ve a hunch we’re going to grow a little, get a little more organized and get surprised by September far too soon.
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It’s a way for knowing the good times are getting nearer.
The graphic took a slow load route onto my monitor but I knew exactly what it meant as soon as I could make out the 6.
We have a similar countdown going on.
I’ve elected to make this last week of school (with me) more, uh, what? special? Whatever… by driving them in each day rather than loading them up on the bus.
I can`t wait till school gets back in session…I am waiting on word about summer right now for all 3 of them…They would be taking some review classes and some fun ones too..
It sounds interesting to see a countdown each day and it makes more exciting to count how many days left until the final event.
By the way, nice photo of your flower.
While my son was young, school holidays meant nothing because I homeschooled him. However, he is spending the last two years in school to get his qualifications for university entrance but he is 17 now and so needs no babysitting. The only thing that is affected is when we can take overseas holidays and for how long. A bit of a bummer really.
I remember the count down days too, like it was yesterday. But then you wait for school to start because I always got new clothes and I couldn’t wear them until school started…;)
I have a human countdown calendar…also known as my son. 5 more finals, three days of school. The countdown started three weeks ago.
Jean-Luc,
We’re down to two days now! I expect to see hours and minutes crossed off before too long…
Delmer,
Way to nurture! I’ve been running to pick up my older guy after each day of finals (after all that brain use, I’m not sure he could even FIND the bus). My younger two officially finish up on Tuesday, but I already see “summer” in their eyes…
PurpleFrog,
Yes; hopefully the learning doesn’t stop when school ends (for kids AND adults)… No classes for mine (besides sports stuff), but I hope they’ll learn some new things!
Land Projects UK,
-What a difference from the count-down they do at the end of summer before school starts again!
And “thanks” on the flower photo… I’m using a new camera and having way too much fun!
Suzanne,
It’s so hard to give your kids into a system that then defines your family schedule! I STILL took my daughter out for school at the start of this past year for a special trip. I was a little reluctant, but her grades are great, and I figured she’d learn more exploring somewhere new with me than in her first week of class. True or not, she LOVES knowing that we did that together…
mee mOe,
Sounds like your mom was the master of incentives! And that’s a great idea…may have to use that when the end of August looms.
Stewart Allyn,
Ha!
My kids have freed up my brain from storing so much unnecessary information like: what day of the week it is, how old I am, if we have milk in the fridge…
Hope your son sails well through finals!