New Years always arrives early for me. Sept. to be exact.
Come September, there’s a natural rhythm for change and renewed visions for how things ought to be here in the northeastern part of the US. The air turns crisp, the leaves explode with vibrant expressions of a zest for life before fading and floating down for a long winter’s rest.
But nothing, and I mean nothing, is as exhilarating as that first glimpse of the yellow school bus meandering down your street, gathering up our children and blissfully scooting them off to start another school year.
Don’t get me wrong. We all enjoy basking in the leisurely pace of summer, the lack of routine and structure in our lives, but by the end of August, most moms, if they are truthful, have had it! Honestly, we all love our children, but enough togetherness is enough.
As September approaches, us moms are ready. Really ready.
We are yearning for normalcy and yes, surprisingly, the routines we bitched about throughout the past school year. It starts off as a soft murmur, but by the end of August, you can hear our chanting, echoing loudly throughout our neighborhoods, “Bring on the yellow school bus”.
Of course, as is usual for all New Year’s celebrations, the prep work is not all fun and games. There’s the obligatory back to school shopping. The new clothes (did your kids really grow that much over the summer?) and the new backpacks, (my how tastes and styles have changed since June. What was cool in the past year is so yesterday a few months and a new grade later). Then there’s the crush of an endless stream of frenzied moms scouring the aisles at Staples or Office Depot, school supply list clenched tightly in their frustrated hands. Don’t get me started.
Clearly, the lazy days of summer have quickly come to an end.
But look on the bright side. Once the necessary prep work has been completed and checked off your to do list, the new school year is incredibly invigorating. You start off with a blank slate-and get to fill in all the beautiful graphics and details of your family’s new rhythms and routines.
New Year’s resolutions abound. You swear not to break them, again…
We have such high hopes at the beginning of the school year.
We are wiser from the pitfalls we’ve slogged through last year, determined to find a better way, a saner routine, an organization and a plan. We promise ourselves we’ll spend more time with the kids, scream less, make sure homework gets completed on time without begging or bribery, we’ll even prepare delicious family meals and share fun conversations across the dinner table (and swear we will no longer serve our kids meals contained in paper bags which are scarfed down in the car while we hustle them from one late after school activity to the next).
Your kids get to start off the school year with all the bright and shiny new whistles in place. Their desks have been cleaned out from last year’s lesson, new pencils, pens and markers are at the ready. Their fresh new clothes are even proudly laid out the night before that first day of school. Admit it, you sigh contentedly as you gaze at their uncluttered rooms, enjoying that peaceful moment of bliss, the calm before the inevitable storm of the coming school year. You eagerly anticipate the pictures you will take in the morning as the school bus pulls up to your stop, the one’s your kids hate but you secretly cherish.
Why not do the same new year’s prep for yourself?
Why not feel that same sense of eager anticipation and excitement for yourself? Organize and clean out your pantry. Stock up on pantry and refrigerator staples. Have everything on hand so you’re not always scrambling at the last minute for dinner ideas as you take yet another lap down the grocery store aisles. Invest in yourself. Learn how to meal plan. You’ll save time, money and your sanity. Your kids shouldn’t be the only one’s learning how to do something new.
Children always start off the new school year filled with hope and excitement for great adventures that lie ahead. Shouldn’t you?
What’s on your list of things you’ve resolved to do differently this school year? Share your thoughts, frustrations and solutions in the comments below. We’re all in this together, it’s time to enjoy the ride.
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Serve it up with kickass conversations with your kids. Repeat.
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