Back to school time ... times five

With the start of the new school year just days away, parents from kindergarten to seniors are busy purchasing back-to-school supplies, some more than others. One particular family has that task times five!
Beginning their senior year at Rayne High School for the 2015-2016 term are Harley, Hailey, Hunter, Hannah and Haven, the Doucet quintuplets.
Born December of 1997, the quints are the children of Stacie and Mark Doucet. Needless to say, they have taken all those life-changing steps during the last 17 years together -- times five.
Sure, many families have more than one child in school, some even five. But to have five the same age -- first day of school, first day of junior high, first date, high school prom, senior rings -- and now, graduation plans, all at the same time.
“I think when high school really hit me was their ring ceremony,” stated mom Stacie when asked about high school for her five 17-year-olds. “It just really got to me. My five little babies are not babies anymore as they accepted their rings, one after another.”
“Sure, I’ve know all along these stages of growing up where coming up, but in May when they stood together with their senior rings on, it just hit me a different way knowing that in a year, they will be on their own, finished high school, and making their way in the world.”
However, Stacie still has a full year ahead. The quints are very involved with extracurricular activities and will surely keep Mom busy, as usual, until they don their graduation caps and gowns a little less than a year from now in May.
So when you think of school supplies, uniform purchases, and all the fees and dues parents write checks for the start of a new school year, think about that total -- times five.

By Lisa Soileaux
Rayne Acadian-Tribune