First Week of School Brunch
The first day of school gets all the attention. New shoes, new supplies, our letter board picture tradition — and, at least at our house, a few nerves and a lot of rushing around after a summer of not having to be dressed, fed, and out the door by 7:30am.
So this year, I decided to celebrate a different milestone: making it through the first full week of school.
By Saturday morning, there was actually something to talk about. The nerves had settled enough to talk about what was exciting, what was hard, and all the random little things that never seem to make it into an answer to How was your day?
I made one of my son’s favorites — pesto breakfast sandwiches — to give us a reason to sit around the table together a little longer.
A Simple First Week of School Tradition
I like that this happens after the milestone instead of adding one more thing to an already busy first day — and before all of the sports and activities ramp up.
No elaborate menu or decorations needed. Just a family breakfast that feels a little more special than what you’d normally eat before school, add something easy like fresh fruit, and sit down together when no one is rushing out the door. The point isn’t really the brunch afterall. It’s creating a natural opportunity to hear about the week.
Instead of the standard How was school?, try:
- What was better than you expected?
- What are you most excited about this year?
- What seems like it might be hard?
- Who have you enjoyed spending time with?
- What’s one thing you want to do this school year?
And then let the conversation go wherever it goes. Because let me tell ya, his answers aren’t what I was expecting! What seems hard? And he said he didn’t have enough responsibility over the summer, so making sure he has everything he needs each day and getting out the door has been hard. (Challenge accepted for next summer! More responsibility!)
What I Made for Our Back-to-School Brunch
I wanted something that felt special enough for brunch without turning Saturday morning into a production, so I made open-faced pesto breakfast sandwiches with slow fermented bagels, fresh pesto, a high protein egg and mozzarella bake, and tomato. With orange juice, and a couple of lattes for Russell and me, we were all happy to sit by the table for a little longer!
They’re fresh and summery for those August back-to-school days, but substantial enough to make breakfast feel like an occasion.
[Get the Pesto Breakfast Sandwich Recipe →]
Maybe next year it’ll be pancakes or breakfast tacos from somewhere we love. I don’t think the food really matters. I just like the idea of claiming one slow Saturday morning before the school year gets completely underway.
The first day gets the pictures. The end of the first week is when we finally get to hear the stories.
