I recently found myself drawn to the store aisle where clerks were putting out school supplies. The assortment of fancy markers, folders and other updated items captured my attention.
Eyeing the neon-colored notebooks, I longingly remembered my old, blue denim three-hole with the burgundy strip down its side. And that smell. It had to be the new crayons – somewhat oily and pungent. So many new colors.
And there was another smell. Fragrant markers – how wonderful! Even the standard white school glue jockeyed for shelf space with tinted and transparent varieties.
I saw my two teen-agers coming toward me. Urging them to join me, I showed them the new notebooks in bright colors.
“Look at these great notebooks! Hot pink! Crazy mixed-up blue!” I scratch the nylon surfaces. “And listen. Velcro pockets on the inside!” I demonstrate.
No thanks, Mom, they say. They only want black or plain blue.
I must have heard wrong.
“OK, then. Have a look at these markers. Won’t you need them for something? Let’s get some. These are scented!”
I grab a box from the shelf and hold them under my daughter’s nose. Just smell them, I beg. You must be joking, says the look I get.
“Well, then, what about these pencils? Look…they have football teams, marble designs, stripes, dots…”
Sorry, Mom, says my son. They’re just not for him.
So what about rulers, a purple glue stick, anything?
Well, they admit, they do need a big supply of notebook paper – white only. And maybe a dozen folders – red and blue only.
“That’s it?” They look at each other as I make this statement just a little too loudly. Not that they are ungrateful, but…they are teen-agers…they just don’t need those other supplies anymore.
Withdrawal symptoms start to set in. Have my kids grown up so fast they no longer need those “fun” tools for school anymore? Even if those days are gone for my kids, I still have that maternal instinct to provide.
I hear the excited voices of children asking their moms for glow-in-the-dark markers and purple glue sticks. Some comply. However, I saw one mom who had to say no.
“I’ll get them when I can,” she said. But her tone indicated that day may never come.
“I’ll get them for you,” I wanted to say. But of course, I didn’t.
I thought about that child later. How will she feel when school starts, and she doesn’t have any markers? Chances are, she knows she may never receive any.
Maybe…just maybe…I’ll go ahead and get some of those “new and improved” markers. A couple of bucks toward a few little school supplies could make a difference in a child’s time at school.
I encourage you to join me in remembering those kids who may be in need. No child should carry the burden of family financial woes when there are so many of us who can easily remedy that problem.
But some markers or a package of notebook paper. They visit your local school principal or counselor with a much-needed donation. It will be appreciated. And each child who benefits from your generosity will remember you forever.
