Back to School with Red Mill Burgers
We dropped Wyatt off at his first-grade classroom this morning. It was heartbreaking. It's a new school building--even though it's the same teachers, staff, and students, it feels completely different than his old school. He was quiet the whole way to school, walking in, hanging up his backpack, finding his seat. I sat down next to him and asked if he wanted me to stay for a few minutes. He blinked hard, lower lip trembling, and said, "Okay." Every ounce of energy in his little body was devoted to not crying. I don't care how much you paid me--I wouldn't be six again.
I keep thinking of him, in the giant lunchroom eating grapes from his Scooby Doo lunchbox, putting new erasers in his pencilbox, standing around at recess looking for kids he knows. Like I said, heartbreaking.
He's been pretty worried the last couple weeks. In an effort to coach him (how he must hate being my son sometimes!), I said, "Let's think about the worst thing that could happen on your first day, and we'll figure out how you could deal with it." I'm assuming he'll say something like, "Get lost," and I could counter with, "Ask an adult for help!" But he said, "Well, I could break my leg." Then we had a good laugh. He'll be fine, but today kind of sucks for both of us, I think.
We have a tradition of going out to eat the night we shop for school supplies. Wyatt's request was Red Mill Burgers. I can't promise I didn't drop any conspicuous hints, though. He knows the way to his mother's heart.
Red Mill, how I love thee--the roasted Anaheim chile burger, fat with jack cheese. The blue cheese and bacon burger, bacon so crunchy you have to wear headphones. And fries with bits of potato skin hanging on, cornmeal-coated onion rings that ruin every dieter. We've lived in Seattle 14 years and been Red Mill devotees since the day we moved here. We are training our children up in the Way of the Mill, and hopefully our children's children.
After burgers and school supplies, we went to Old School Frozen Custard. Thick, heart-attacking custard, rich with egg yolks, not even the tiniest lump or bit of iciness. Wyatt sat down with his cone and his eyes literally rolled back in his head. Frozen custard has to be one of the most hospitable things ever--absolutely no barriers to downing it quickly. When I am old and feeble, I will be asking for it through my feeding tube. And if you really love me, you'll cut my Anaheim burger into small bits while we talk about how Wyatt survived his first day of first-grade (and was the better for it, really).
September 9, 2009
Reader Comments (25)
I'm sitting here bawling, my keyboard is all wet, and I'm sad that Wyatt has to brave another new beginning. He's such a sensitive soul and conscience being, I want to protect him from from anything and everything that could hurt. I'm comforted though, because I know he has the best cheerleaders in the world rooting for him, and little Loretta on the side lines yelling Go WYATT, GO! You're an awesome mom!!!
P.S. about the red mill burgers, they are my favorite in seattle too! can't beat um!
I agree about Red Mill. Love them.
I got to go with my sister and brother-in-law yesterday as they took my niece, Nadia, to Kindergarden. She can be shy and would not leave the side of whichever parent was closer for the entire half hour I was there. Such a trooper. She didn't know a single child or parent. Portland has a very weird school system. Every one of the kids in the neighborhood goes to a different school.
But when I called in the late afternoon, she said immediately that it was a great day. She made a friend or two - all the difference. Nothing else mattered.
First grade, we had Miss Reinstra in first grade...ugh. You could not pay me enough to ever repeat that.
I hope Wyatt had a great rest of the day and that his teacher compares with Miss Honey from Matilda. :)
Oh, dear. You've brought me right back to elementary school and all of its terrors. (I wouldn't want to be six again either!!) What I really love about this post, though, is that it has me thinking about the good memories of things like buying school supplies with my mom and asking her to get me cones from McDonald's when she'd pick me up from school. You know, someday, Wyatt might not remember the first day of this school year, but I bet he'll remember the way you helped him through it. Three cheers to both of you!
So nice to have those traditions. Enjoy while he is so young.
oh, such a sensitive post...I was wipin my eyes readin this one. I hate to think of Wyatt being nervous or scared...but it's reality isn't it?? He will learn over and over, what doesn't kill us-makes us stronger. One of my friends is experiencing similiar emotions with her little guy Webber this week--dropping him off for a full day of preschool in the morning and daycare in the afternoon. He doesn't want to go in the morning, but then doesn't want to leave when it's time to come home! aahhh. I hope Wyatt has a good school year, and give that little rascal Loretta a squeeze. Oh, and I LOVE how you have the tradition of going out to eat after buying school supplies.
sarah-what is the green glob coming out of the burger?? did I miss something in the description? it looks really good...even though I called it a glob:) Is it peppers?
Indulge me while I talk about my first day of school. It was in the old'n days before everyone went to preschool or kindergarten. So my first day was into first grade. I was five. We lived in Toppenish, but all ten of us kids went to school in Yakima, twenty miles away, because there were no Catholic schools in Toppenish. I got special treatment that day, riding up personally chauffeured by the mother of my friend Steve (another Toppenish first grader), rather than on the bus. Steve and I both had our swishy salt and pepper uniform cords on, and our stiffly pressed gray shirts. I was disappointed when Steve was in a different room than I. I didn't know a soul. My only solace was the fact that I had 4 older sisters and an older brother in the same school. I was eager to find them at recess. For one thing, they tied my shoes, which was a skill I hadn't yet learned. I could go on more about that scary day in September of 1958. Since this is a food blog, I'll just say that I most likely had a peanut butter sandwich for lunch, lovingly made by my mother, who set our new and unwrinkled brown lunch bags on the counter with our names on them, like so many ducks in a row. No wonder I still find simple solace in a peanut butter sandwich.
This post resonated deeply with me, and frankly, tortured me a bit. I, too, have a sensitive little boy and I already agonize about sending him to preschool next year. He will definitely be the shaky-lip shy kid who barely holds it together to get through. Great. Now I'm crying. I just might homeschool. Forever. He'll be 60 and having his friends over for board game night. Maybe I'll make them all a gallette and some of your mom's cookies.
And then you have to write about Red Mill?! There is not a burger to be found in my new hometown that even comes close to Red Mill. Add that to my ridiculously long list of places I must eat at when I visit next month. Have you tried the Latona Pub's burger? No flashy options, but seriously delicious, in my opinion.
Lastly, my great grandmother either had dementia or serious mental illness when she was older and my mom & aunt made her homemade egg nog every day. It is the only thing she would allow in her mouth. Custard seems like a much better choice. Either way, you'll have great skin.
Here's hoping Wyatt came home without a broken leg. :)
Oh man those burgers looked delicious. How far is Red Mill from Redmond?? I might have to make a special trip just to experience this place.
First day in the First grade... never easy but what a great way to end the day. Way to go Mom!! I just took my four to 7/11 for slurpees!! Not nearly as nice as your outing :)
Just put the kids to bed, checked in here and found all your wonderful comments.
Mom and Jessica, love that you were crying over your keyboard.
Karla--Miss Reinstra!! God, I haven't thought of that name in years. I'm with you--wouldn't want to repeat that. She's one of those people that didn't want to be a teacher anymore, I think.
Shannalee, hello! Your comment made me feel so much better.
Papa, I love to think of your little self in your little Catholic uniform, all "yes, ma'am" to the nuns and unwrapping your peanut butter sandwich.
Kathleen, I didn't know you moved! We never met in person, but Seattle will still be a little lonelier.
And Noel, taking four kids for slurpees is a feat, certainly as nice as anything I've ever done with my kids. In fact, they probably wish they had a lot more slurpees.
I get a little lump in my throat, chest, and stomach reading this and thinking of his little lips and eyes. What a tender hearted Mom you are and what a tender heart Wyatt is. I love that you're the kind of Mom that doesn't say buck up, you'll be fine. I love that you sat down next to him!
Jess and I were talking tonight about this posting and what we remember being that age. I spent the first two weeks of first grade feigning sickness and having a safety, Sarah Lamar, walk me home from school until my mom finally stopped allowing me to come home. I was sooo shy as a little girl and such a mama's girl. My sister then reminded me of a time when she left elementary school and walked by herself several blocks to the church where my mom was the secretary. When my mom saw her and asked "what are you doing here?" my sister said "I didn't want to be there anymore." I don't know how she left without anyone knowing, but she did.
I think you've struck a chord, you couldn't pay us to go back.
I loved watching Wyatt run around Office Max with his basket and his list. I'll be sending up the prayers this week for all the tender hearts and newness around your house and at school. xoxo.
Love all the memories shared in our comments.
Yes, I got lumps and teary eyes, but also wide smiles. Wyatt experienced uncertainty - and came through it. A HUGE life lesson :) You took FABULOUS photos that he will treasure one day, as they reinforce his moment of success (see above). I still remember a day where my Mom spoke to my friends about storms and how I wasn't afraid of them. My self-confidence grew "three sizes that day." And obviously I still remember it decades later. You gave your son a great gift, and you don't intend to let up on that endeavor. How wonderful!!!!!
With my final two in their last year of middle school, I teared up in Staples realizing that this was probably the last year of the school supply tradition. I cried because I have loved and worried over them at every new beginning. I cried because I love office supplies and will be in their presence less frequently. Mostly I cried because my heart keeps being asked to release them more and more and I know there is a time coming, not so far off, when I won't get to see their lovely faces in the morning.
Even though my daughter is a senior in high school this year, you brought vivid memories of my daughters 1st grade.
We had moved, so it was new everything - teachers, friends, etc. She cried every day and it broke my heart to leave her to catch the train - I wish I had had the luxury of sitting next to her to comfort her.
About the third week, Hannah brought a note home from the teacher that said "Hannah now stops crying by the time she hangs up her coat and is adjusting well." Whew!
And BTW, that burger looks AMAZING!
I know I will bawl my eyes out when Graham starts kindergarten next year. With his additional suitcase of challenges I will worry incessantly for him (as if I don't already.) Thanks for sharing this moment with us - so bittersweet.
tender, wonderful. LOVE! is there anything else to say?!
....oh ya, there is: red mill date when i'm home in january!
Alright, I'm going to jump on the "first day of school story" bandwagon. I have some vivid memories of my first day of kindergarten.
We were living in Chicago proper while my dad was finishing his Masters degree, and the school was across the street from our apartment complex.
I'd been waiting my WHOLE LIFE to go to school and today was finally the day.
Mom took us over in the morning, and we dropped my sister off at her second grade class... she was the seasoned, confident second grader.
Next, mom took me by my kindergarten classroom. WooHoo, this was the moment. But then, mom broke the news. I was in the AFTERNOON class and didn't get to go to school until after lunch. What!? Look at all these kids who get to be in school and I'm STILL waiting? That's so so so so wrong. Sigh.
There's a good chance I also had peanut butter for lunch...
.....I just have to say I love all the people who are a part of this blog community, you have to be some of the best people in the world!
Hi sister. Wow. Can't believe W is in first grade...last year passed so quickly. Hope he had a good second day and settles in smoothly with all sorts of learning, fun and friends in store for his this year. Sounds like a great celebration/transition from summer to school year. Give him a big xo for me. Love you all!
Back to school & first grade, what heartbreaking, grand & precious memories. Wyatt looks so adorable & brave. I love your insight & stories. You & Yancy are lovely parents.
This kindergarten teacher just shedded a few tears...What an exhausting week, and wonderful all at once. I feel for all those kids who changed schools--it was my first day at a new school too and I felt the same need to be brave!
Poor buddy! I can remember all the anxieties and fears of all my beginnings. Yes I would not want to me six again either. What a strong little guy though. Hang in there. Sending happy thoughts your way.
Oh my goodness, I thought starting daycare and preschool was tough! Your posting also made me get all weepy....and reminds me of all of the new beginnnings ahead for us as well.
I hope this week goes great for all of you.