Mama and the girls get a tiny taste of back-to-school.
Courtesy of Sarah Shrader
I always found it so odd that we go back to school the week before Labor Day, attempt to get back on a routine, and then immediately get a three-day weekend. Like, what’s the point? Just start after Labor Day!
But guys, I don’t know if it was just so much going on at work as well as back to school, but this year, I finally understand. After rushing around doing all the things to prepare for the first day, not only am I actually looking forward to this long weekend, but I feel like I need it!
Whew. I guess I forgot how crazy this week can be. I mean, I had like three months to get all the stuff ready – but, let’s be honest, this is me we are talking about and well, I work better under pressure? Yeah, we are going with that.
But for real, who needs 48 pencils? Look, I came into school-aged babies when it was the popular thing to label EVERY… SINGLE… ONE with an encouraging phrase. And well, I can’t not do at least what I did the year before. But two kids times 48 pencils – you run out of words! This year, at least, I did recruit some help with my family – especially my mom and sis – to get them labeled. But, whew, so much work!
And, can we go back to Open House in the evening – when we all go at the same time – and it is a cluster, but we drop off school supplies and leave? Yes, I do want to do all these online apps – but just send me a paper. I don’t need to sit through a class of how we log on. Ha! But then again, I am sure if I don’t then I will be messaging in about 2 weeks asking for help!
So, sure, middle of a Monday morning would be a perfect time to go – it is definitely not my busiest time at work. I love coming back from a weekend feeling behind. Just juggling all the hats that I am wearing over here. But, let’s be honest, I will choose these baby girls every time.
And the night before the big day, we have to lay out the clothes, read our favorites books (highly recommend “The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn), say our prayers, talk through our anxieties of starting a new year, completely miss my goal of bedtime, cuddle, fight sleep – you know, the normal.
By that time, a Mama is exhausted. All the things are ready – I don’t know if I am more excited for the first day to be here or to be over! Almost there, Mama, you got this.
Then the morning comes – way earlier than expected – but with a little extra pep in the step because it is the first day. Or, for Reagan, some impromptu dancing that definitely brings all the energy, and I try to soak it all in, without semi-being-annoyed that the bus is 15 minutes late (which I know from years past because us crazy moms need all the pictures) but also, I need to get to work!
Finally, they step on that bus. And I am telling you, after that, every single thing that has ever been dangerous at school flew through my mind, and I wanted to chase the bus down and rip them off. Once I suppressed all those thoughts, I moved into sadness – these girls are off again – another year older. And I just wanted to cry. Where are my babies? How did this happen so fast?
Anxiously, I waited all day to hear about their first day. They poured on how fabulous it was – they went on and on about how much they loved it and then… Reagan reached her peak of tiredness. And she decided she didn’t want to go back the next day.
Um, wait, what? You have been waiting for it, loved it, and now this? She wanted to stay home with Mommy – which totally broke my heart, but baby, I have worked your whole life – that hasn’t even been a thing.
And when I thought I had gotten through the wrath of getting them back to school, I hadn’t. Lots of cuddles, pep talks, reminding her that Mommy works to support her and her sister, and that she can and needs to choose her attitude about this; night one of back to school went, well, we will call it, fine.
So yes, thank you school system for sending us back before a three day weekend. Because the good Lord knows that both my kiddos and I – we are going to need that extended time to refresh and replenish before we dive deep into this school year.
But regardless, we will make it through, because well, we always do.
Sarah (Pitson) Shrader was born and raised in Lima. She is a Lima Central Catholic and Tiffin University graduate. Sarah is a full-time working mama who enjoys writing about her somewhat crazy, always adventurous life as a mother. She lives in Bath Township with her daughters and writing inspirations, Maylie and Reagan.
