Wednesday
Aug112004
Happy New (School) Year!
Wednesday, August 11, 2004 at 06:48PM
August 9th, it's back to school ya'll--at least down here in the South. It seems so strange to us foreigners (Yankees and West Coasters), who are used to enjoying summer until after Labor Day. The kids were out of school by the end of May last year, so it's not like we didn't have plenty of time with our little darlings--24/7, all day, every day; another long, hot summer--and you know what that can do to Mom!
After putting two children on the bus Monday morning, getting hubby off to work, and dropping the youngest at pre-K, it felt like New Year's Day--and I was more than ready to continue the celebration from the night before: I quite literally danced around the house as we laid out the new school clothes, packed up the new backpacks, and made the first-day lunches! (Probably the last time we'll have that enthusiasm and motivation to get it all done the night before.)
Even though I don't believe in doing it on January 1st anymore (way too much pressure after the whole holiday insanity), I do find myself with a list of New (School) Year's Resolutions--although the first one is to get organized enough to write them down:
1) I am going to stay organized this year.
2) I am going to GET organized...soon...
I'm still working on all of that. The first week is all about recovery, anyway. Back to the celebration--
You might think Moms' New School Year celebrations would include something wild and exotic--a trip to Paris, a day at the spa, even just lunch and shopping at The Mall (without a stop at Toys R Us)--which would be great and I?m definitely up for any of that. But, truth be told, The Secret Life of Housewives--at least the working kind--involves more modest festivities:
The thought of choosing a restaurant by ambiance and cuisine, instead of the advertised toy in the kids' meal--I can kind of remember doing that!
Most of all, the New School Year is a chance to recover from being the entertainment director and mistress of ceremonies for three young children and friends all day, every day. (God help and bless you if you've still got little ones at home--this is my first year of freedom!) At least for a few brief hours during the day, after the Mom-stuff that still has to be done, I am celebrating the freedom to do the things I want and need to do. I could get used to this!
After putting two children on the bus Monday morning, getting hubby off to work, and dropping the youngest at pre-K, it felt like New Year's Day--and I was more than ready to continue the celebration from the night before: I quite literally danced around the house as we laid out the new school clothes, packed up the new backpacks, and made the first-day lunches! (Probably the last time we'll have that enthusiasm and motivation to get it all done the night before.)
Even though I don't believe in doing it on January 1st anymore (way too much pressure after the whole holiday insanity), I do find myself with a list of New (School) Year's Resolutions--although the first one is to get organized enough to write them down:
1) I am going to stay organized this year.
2) I am going to GET organized...soon...
I'm still working on all of that. The first week is all about recovery, anyway. Back to the celebration--
You might think Moms' New School Year celebrations would include something wild and exotic--a trip to Paris, a day at the spa, even just lunch and shopping at The Mall (without a stop at Toys R Us)--which would be great and I?m definitely up for any of that. But, truth be told, The Secret Life of Housewives--at least the working kind--involves more modest festivities:
- Getting the house back in order--which will include several trips to Good Will to donate all of the outgrown toys and clothes and clutter that has accumulated and taken over during the summer.
- Going to the bathroom by myself--not having to worry about what's happening on the other side of the door (teasing, bickering, biting, mess-making, fire-setting, etc.).
- Watching what I want--re-programming TiVo to record Oprah!
- Listening to my music--or turning the TV and the radio off to read a book, or--gasp--get some work done!
- Making what I want for lunch--without the battle, negotiation, and compromises. Better yet, going out to lunch--somewhere with NO Playland, NO plastic chairs, and NO Happy Meals!
The thought of choosing a restaurant by ambiance and cuisine, instead of the advertised toy in the kids' meal--I can kind of remember doing that!
Most of all, the New School Year is a chance to recover from being the entertainment director and mistress of ceremonies for three young children and friends all day, every day. (God help and bless you if you've still got little ones at home--this is my first year of freedom!) At least for a few brief hours during the day, after the Mom-stuff that still has to be done, I am celebrating the freedom to do the things I want and need to do. I could get used to this!