It's the most wonderful time of the year... {Back to School}

For some, the most wonderful time of the year is Christmas, but for me it's Back-to-School time. This is usually something that I don't admit. I overheard a group of moms talking once, saying how sorry they felt for those of us who were excited to send our kids back to school. Until then, I never considered the subject. Note to self: good parents want to spend time with their kids. Check.

So from then on, I kept my true feelings to myself.

Summer in our house means complete chaos. Each Spring, Marc and I plan wonderful things we're going to do with the kids over the summer. (He's a teacher, so he has the summers "off" too...although he wouldn't call it time off.) We plan zoo trips and camp and museum outings, hikes, bikes, a weekend trip or two if we're lucky. And, for the days when we're at home, we brainstorm all sorts of cool homeschoolish lessons.


In reality, summer looks like this: Super Uncle comes out to Colorado and stays with us so that he and hubby can tear apart every room in the house in preparation for a remodel. The kids chase each other around with sharp sticks, stopping every 2.8 minutes to ask for something to eat. I am lucky if I get my work done in 12 hours each day, since I work from home. By the end of each day we're lucky if we've escaped without stitches or a call to poison control.

Now, I love my kids. A lot. I love that I work from home and can be Room Mom, volunteer in the classroom, pick them up from school, take them to dance lessons and science classes and play dates. I love our Friday movie nights and weekend outings. But I also love dropping them off at school again on Monday (and Tuesday, and Wednesday...). In fact -- and lean in real close, because I'm gonna whisper this -- I felt as if the clouds parted and the hallelujah chorus started playing on Tuesday when I dropped the two remaining kids off for their first day of school.

I've gotten more accomplished in the last two and a half days than I did all summer. As I type, there's a plate of homemade "cupcakes" (apple cinnamon muffins with cream cheese frosting) sitting next to me for my little guy's preschool birthday party tomorrow; a pan of eggs in the oven, with which I'll make and freeze "Egg McMuffins" for on-the-go breakfasts; chicken in the crock pot for tonight's chicken enchilada dinner, the dishwasher is empty, the laundry is running, and later I'm going to sneak in a workout before I go to pick up the kids. That's how it's done! {Watch out Martha!}

Oh, and when I pick the kids up from school? Instead of thinking "I'm going to jump off a cliff if I have to hear one more argument." I think "Aw, I missed you guys today!"

Sure I miss the days (and there were a lot of them!) of staying in pj's all day long, staying up late and sleeping in, but I'm pretty sure I'm a more patient mother, organized homemaker, and better chef when school is in session.