When you are a stay-at-home mom (or whatever PC term is
being used these days) there really is no such thing as summer vacation. All
the days just seem to melt together.
So when my oldest started school a few years ago I began to
see what is was like to have a few hours of one less kid in the house. Last
year I got to see that magic times two when my son started preschool. And this
year, well, this year all three of my adorable, sweet, very loud children will
be attending school.
The little one will only be gone a few hours each morning,
but still it is a couple hours all to myself. I might even be able to have a
coherent thought, or finish a cup of coffee while it’s still hot. But let’s not
get greedy, Sarah.
I envision trips to the grocery store where I don’t have to
tell a child to put something down or come back here (at least not without
getting some strange looks). I might actually get my hair cut – something I
have only gotten around to doing once since we moved here a year ago (that one
I’ll take the heat on, but still it will be nice). I even might get to write an
entire article for this publication start to finish without being interrupted a
dozen times.
So while many parents may dread the start of the school year
and their kids going back to school – I must admit I won’t. I love my kids I
really do, but after four months of the yelling and fighting and complaining
and whining I won’t shed too many tears when they skip off to their classrooms.
Luckily there has been plenty of smiling and hugs and laughter as well.
Plus I am happy to say they are all completely ready to go.
My soon-to-be second grader has been asking when school was going to start
since the end of July. My son is excited to be going the “big kid” school for
pre-K and my youngest was so excited to start preschool that it was her main
motivation to become potty trained. (Thank you Ms. Jen! We are now diaper free
for the first time in seven and a half years!)
I know I should be sad and I will admit that there is a
small part of me that is. No more babies at home. No more snuggling on the
couch in our pajamas on a Tuesday or spontaneous stops at the bakery for a
doughnut on a Thursday. I know I will miss
the tiny little hand grabbing mine as we walk across the parking lot.
But I know I am lucky that I DID get all that time with them
and while I may hold back a tear as my older kids climb on that big yellow
school bus and my youngest hangs her new backpack on her hook for the very
first time, I realize they are growing up and this is just the next step in our
lives.
That brings me to another realization – Mama needs a job!
