It’s quiet here. No TV, no computer games, no one rummaging through the refrigerator. It’s almost too quiet. Even the critters are quiet this morning. It’s almost as if they know something has changed.
It has.
It’s the first day of school.
No more sleeping late, no more lazy breakfasts, no more lying around all morning trying to figure out what to do all day. Not that I ever had those problems. As a work-at-home mom (Yes, I know we are all working mothers, but you know what I mean), summer break means getting up even earlier than usual so I can have a few quiet moments to work before the chaos begins.
It’s funny. I love when they get out of school for the summer and I love when they go back. Funny thing is, my kids feel the same way. They are excited when the school year ends and then, by August, they are ready to go back. I am, too.
I’ve always loved this back-to-school commercial, though I’ve also thought that Staples really dropped the ball on this one. After all, it makes no difference to Dad (except for that back-to-school budget hit) one way or another whether they’re home all day or at school. His schedule never changes–at least not as our house. They really should have had a mom in the commercial.
We don’t do a lot of back-to-school shopping here. In fact, this year, I had one who needed a new pair of athletic shoes to be ready for band practice. So far, that’s all we’ve gotten. But I know it’s coming. I have high school students now. There is no supply list at Target for high school students so I can send them off to the first day with a backpack full of crayons, markers, glue sticks and tissues.
No, they’ll come home after the first day with a supply list for every single one of their six classes that, taken in total will require me to swing by the bank and secure a second mortgage before headed to the four stores I will have to scour to find everything on their list—and they’ll have to have it all by tomorrow. This year’s list will include dandy items like $100 calculators, computer flash drives, marching band shoes and dead animals to dissect for biology class. And no doubt, at least one teacher will “strongly recommend” a laptop. Like that’s going to happen.
This year will be especially interesting. I have two high school students attending two different high schools on two different schedules in opposite directions from home. I’m pretty sure it’s going to take me about three days to decide that wasn’t the best idea I’ve ever had. Especially when it’s time to drive them to two different seminary classes in two different directions from home at O’Dark-30 when the snow comes.
Oh, and did I fail to mention that one of the high school students is also taking classes at the community college? It looks like I’ll be spending a lot of time in the car this year. I guess back-to-school shopping better include a trip to the gas station. Maybe even some audio books. I think I’ll be driving a lot this year.
In the meantime, though, I’m enjoying my quiet time. Maybe I can actually get some work done, write on a regular schedule, eat my lunch without seventeen interruptions or someone else thinking it looks good enough to eat themselves.
It’s quiet here. Almost too quiet. Maybe I should wake up the dog. Or not.