Mommy Blog

Oh, Happy Day…

in Must Be Nice on August 17, 2016

It has arrived.  Let us all take a moment to fully appreciate THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

Now, I realize that not all of my readers out there are experiencing this magical sense of euphoria.  Some of your precious spawns will not start school until next week, or even, gasp, until AFTER Labor Day!  My heart aches for y’all.

As for me, I have been counting down and marking days off of my calendar since the end of May.  I really do love my children..honestly, I do.  It’s just that the summer months are so incredibly L-O-N-G.  The summer has NOTHING that resembles a schedule.  I need a schedule.  The children, and all of their friends, EAT-ALL-DAY-LONG.  This is a never-ending cycle.  If their eyes are open, their stomachs are empty.

During the summer, my children forget most, if not all of the House Rules.  Simple rules such as, No food or drinks upstairs.  I have to remind them of said rules when I go on scavenger hunts for missing glassware and vanished cutlery…only to find a mountain of treasure stashed in various taboo places on the second floor of the house.

Laundry has never been something that I am terribly fond of, yet somehow in the summer it multiplies exponentially.  This amazes me.  The children do not wear clothes in the summer.  They live in swimsuits.  During the school year; however, they are limited to one, possibly two outfits per day due to their time at school.

Now, I realize that during the school year there are practices, games, homework, tutoring, and  scores of other activities that require my attention.  All of that needs constant tending to and planning.  It means I need to be sharp and organized.  The kids learn to pull their own weight.  They must help around the house.  They learn to plan ahead with homework and projects.  They toss laundry down the chute…if it isn’t in the laundry room–it does NOT get washed.  Chores get divvied up and divided among all of us.  In a household with lots of people and a traveling husband, we all have to pull our own weight.

It teaches the children responsibility.

But, most importantly, for eight hours a day, my house is quiet.  Just quiet.

So, yes, I absolutely LOVE the first day of school.  I will not be attending any Boo Parties or Cry Parties, or whatever sad-sob stories parents do these days for after they kiss their kiddos good-bye.  Does that mean I love my children any less?  Of course not!  Don’t be daft.  It simply means that I have a life outside of my children…and it is wonderful.

So, if on the first day of school, you find yourself a bit unsure of how to spend your time, might I make a suggestion?  Go get a pedicure.  Have lunch with a friend, read a book, or simply sit and listen to the quiet in your house…3:15 will be here before you know it!  And then chaos will reign supreme once again.

Here’s hoping your day is all you want it to be!

-Dallas

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