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DEL.ICIO.USAre you ready for school to start back?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s funny. Even though it doesn’t seem to really bother me during the year, when school lets out in the spring, I find I am so ready to throw structure out the window. I love not planning every meal and only shopping when I need to instead of doing the massive Sunday binge to buy enough to get me through packed lunches and dinners for most of the week.
In the summer I love the freedom to go with the flow, ordering pizza if we’re at the pool too late or stopping by the store after work to pick up something to throw on the grill. It seems so easy without a steadfast schedule.
But now it’s back to reality. I’ve spent the last weeks coordinating carpools and after school activities, which will allow very little time to “wing it” anymore. It’s now a lot of go, go, go leaving me little, if any, time to be spontaneous when everyone has someplace to be and needs to be fed. I know in time there will be a comfort to the routine and to being more organized. I think it’s the sadness of saying goodbye to the freedom of coming and going and the reduced stress of no meetings, sports schedules and homework.
What about you? Are you ready for back to school? Does the structure help you plan and get meals on the table easier or do you miss the carefree ways of summer?
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Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Family foibles
Comments
By FCM
August 8, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
First let me get this off my chest — It is too dang early to be headed back to school!
OK, now I can move on to topic. I do like the structure…ok I like not paying so much for Summer Camp and that the kids have more structure…truth is my day stays structured year round.
We will be delving head first into the School Routine on Monday…complete with dinner at the table not in front of the TV during a movie (a summer special at our house). Breakfast will continue to a hurried affair at the breakfast bar. One wants to take lunch the other to buy…we’ll see how that goes. I am trying to do better about taking my own lunches too.
Now about the sadness of saying goodbye to the freedom We are throwing a blowout for BTS tomorrow. Full fledge Cocktails to Coffee affair….Board Games, Movies, Tennis, Pool, the works…and then a picnic bash on Sunday. Make a ritual of saying ‘bye’ or marking the event (like Memorial Day does the ‘start of summer’). It used to be that Labor Day served that purpose but now that everyone thinks August is a school month that doesn’t fulfill its dual purpose anymore.
By Matt
August 11, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
I agree FCM- way too early to start school. I know I am going to miss the summer freedom days. Now, I have to plan and be super duper organzied.
My son plays football and my husband coaches. When they get home they want to EAT a meal not something I just threw together. Yeah, I am surely going to miss summer!
By OhTheDrama
August 11, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
No, I am not ready for the structure of the school year, but it’s here anyway, so I guess I’d better snap to it. During the summer, things are much easier when my son doesn’t have homework. But once school starts were are pressured with homework, football, and a two year old to boot, all competing for 2 or 3 hours in the evening before bedtime. Cooking is especially hard since my son is not quite independent enough to complete his homework without coercion, and my daughter is nowhere near independent enough to stay out of mischief for 15 minutes straight. I’m glad I love my kids so much, it helps to ease the pain.
By JJ
August 11, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
We remain pretty consistent throughout the year. The only thing that changes during school, is my daughter’s bed time. During the summer she can stay up as late as she can, sleep all day and it doesn’t bother me.
Now she will have to be in bed by midnight. I don’t make a big deal out of it. Since she is 17 and a senior, as long as she gets out of bed on time in the a.m. I’m happy.
We always eat dinner together, at the dining room table, breakfast is a bowl of cereal and a piece of fruit. She has a small snack when she gets home from school.
I always grocery shop on Sundays, so no change there.