Fasten Your Seatbelts, Parents: It's Back To School Time!

How can it be that my children have been back to school for only one week now, and I am already exhausted? During the last few weeks of summer with my kids, I imagined being able to catch my breath and focus on some of my personal goals once school resumed. What was I thinking?! Things have been busier than ever!

Granted, it is normal to go through a transition period when school first begins. There are lots of things to adjust to: getting back into a routine at night, doing homework, packing lunches, etc. Then, you also need time to get to know the new teachers and familiarize yourself with their expectations. On top of that, you have to wade through the stream of notices that come home with your child. 

This week alone, this is what I had to read: A very nice letter of welcome from my son's new 2nd grade teacher, in which I was reminded that the Scholastic Book Club orders were due this upcoming Friday; a PTO membership form to be completed; a school calendar of events; a Johnston Recreation Youth Bowling League registration form; a French/ Spanish Language classes application; a flyer from The Artist's Exchange Art's Festival; an application for an After School Basketball Clinic; a Marion J. Mohr Library newsletter; a notice about the CVS Caremark Downtown 5K Youth Races; two pages to fill in with Box Tops for Education; a notice regarding school lunches; and a reading log that my son needs to complete weekly! 

The bottom line is this: there is no resting on your laurels, parents!

One day this week was especially stressful for me. My high school student missed the bus at 6:30 a.m., so I had to wake up my youngest (who was sleeping very peacefully), and get into the car with my pajamas on, and drive her to school. When I was up at the top of my street, I had to make a U-turn and go back to the house, because my middle school niece (who usually waits for her bus to come at my house) had left her backpack in my kitchen the night before. Back to the house. Put backpack outside on the deck for her to get. Drive to Johnston High School. Drop my daughter off. Drive back home. Pull into the garage. Look on the floor between the seats- see my daughter's Biology book and homework there. Think: "Oh No!"  Hear the phone ringing and it is my daughter. "Mom?"

She needs her book! Okay! Back in the car. Head down Hartford Ave, AGAIN!  Drop the book off. Come home. Get my little one ready for school. 

Please, Calgon take me away!

Being a parent of a school-aged child nowadays is A LOT of work!  I don't recall my parents being required to do so much. If one of my siblings or I forgot something at home we had to just deal with it. My mom worked full-time and couldn't come to our rescue in a moment's notice. She was the secretary for the PTA at my elementary school, but that was about it. She wasn't able to volunteer in the classroom or for special events during the day. Actually, I don't recall anyone's parents volunteering at the school during the day. At that time, we had Open House — once a year — in October. Beyond that, there wasn't much happening. There are vague memories of a military band coming to play for us every year, and — one time — we learned to square dance out on the front lawn of Hope School.

We just went to school, came home, did our homework, went to bed, and repeated the same routine throughout the entire school year. My younger sister joined a girl's softball team and took music lessons that required parental involvement (because my mom had to transport her to those things), but the rest of us kids didn't require much. When I was at Scituate High School we had a "late bus" that would actually take us home if we stayed after for extracurricular activities. My parents didn't have to cart us all around town every day.

Jeepers, I guess I am showing my age! At least I don't tell my kids stories of how I had to walk 5 miles through waist-deep snow to get to school everyday! I just tell them about how we only had three television channels to watch : 6, 10 and 12, and they think that is bad enough!!!  

Well, all kidding aside, I want to give special recognition to all of you parents out there — especially working moms and single dads. It is really tough to do all of the above and report to work everyday. Although I am currently a stay-at-home mom, I did juggle working full-time with parenting for many years. It is hard work! Kudos to all of you who manage to pull it off — AND remain half-sane — on a daily basis!