I’ve been eagerly counting down the days, and the moment is almost here. It’s like running a marathon where I’ve stumbled and fallen repeatedly, but I keep pushing forward because there’s a tempting reward waiting for me at the end. That reward? Hours of solitude and perhaps a midday margarita. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. We’re in the final stretch of summer, folks.
Back-to-school time is just around the corner! For some of you, it’s already begun, while others, like me, have a few more weeks left to savor summer break. We still have a bit of time to tackle that overly ambitious summer bucket list I plastered on the fridge back in May. You know the one, promising “Endless Summer Fun.” My inner Mary Poppins created it, filled with lofty plans for amusement parks, pottery painting, and even hiking. She was promptly dismissed after week three—let’s just say the pottery didn’t quite survive (pun intended).
At the start of the summer, we were all about those bucket list activities. We were crafting like pros with paper plates and pipe cleaners that we saw on Pinterest. We indulged the kids with all the candy they could eat during the Trolls movie. We lugged beach gear and snacks for a week-long Florida trip. We even bravely showed off our muffin tops at the splash park and took cannonballs off the diving board at the kids’ insistence.
But let’s be honest, summer can be exhausting. The sweltering days at the park, the complaints at the pool, the endless sibling squabbles, and the “I’m bored” cries from little ones who have no idea what true boredom feels like. Not to mention the daily meal prep that stretches on for what feels like an eternity. Summer has started to feel like a never-ending marathon.
So we eagerly await that moment when we can zip up those brand new backpacks filled with freshly sharpened pencils and send the kids off through the school doors. The thought of having those hours to myself, lounging by the pool, scheduling massages on random Wednesday mornings, or even sneaking in an afternoon nap while the house is blissfully silent is intoxicating. My heart races at the thought!
But, ah, here’s where the love-hate relationship kicks in. We all know what comes with the back-to-school season, and it’s a real doozy.
I’m already feeling the dread of the homework my son, Max, will bring home. Imagine fractions and geometry, plus figuring out how many more miles Sally needs to catch up with Paul, who left three hours ago with a sandwich divided into 6/8 pieces or something equally confusing. I just hope for Paul’s sake he has some wine to offer Sally!
I’m not prepared for the 6 a.m. wake-up calls to wrangle four kids out of bed for the 7 a.m. school bell. And packing lunches for four every single day for nine months? The thought alone is enough to send me into a mild panic.
And let’s not forget the endless driving—becoming Taxi Mom to shuttling kids to school drop-offs, soccer practices, academic team rehearsals, and everything else. It’s enough to make anyone consider a career change to a professional Uber driver.
Perhaps the most daunting part for many of us in the northern parts of the country is when the colder weather arrives. Those crisp September mornings, rainy October days, and the frosty chill of November will have me dreading the search for four winter coats, hats, and the inevitable mismatched mittens. Just thinking about it is exhausting.
Suddenly, those sweaty park days and popsicles on the swing set don’t seem so bad. Yes, summer is winding down, and we’re feeling drained, but a whole new kind of tired is just around the corner.
Soak up those warm, 90-degree days! Let the kids draw with sidewalk chalk and stay up late to catch fireflies. Let’s make one last cannonball splash and finish this summer strong. Keep your eyes on the prize, moms!
For more tips on navigating the parenting journey, check out our post on couples’ fertility journey for intracervical insemination, and if you’re looking for alternative meal ideas, this resource is helpful. Plus, News Medical is an excellent resource for all things pregnancy and home insemination.
Summary
The back-to-school season brings a whirlwind of emotions for parents, balancing the excitement of newfound free time with the anxiety of homework, early mornings, and colder weather. As summer concludes, it’s essential to cherish those last moments of warmth and fun while preparing for the challenges ahead.