As summer draws near, my disdain for school rivals that of my children. I can hardly contain my excitement as the final week, day, and hour of the academic year approaches. Honestly, the only silver lining of school is that someone else is responsible for educating my kids—thank goodness for that! Whether it’s homeschooling or public schooling, the moment Easter break hits, I’m ready to call it a day. Unfortunately, public schools have those bothersome attendance rules and “required days of schooling,” which just complicate matters.
The list of grievances about school is endless. For starters, the incessant parties—seriously, how many celebrations can a fifth-grade class have in a single year? Not to mention the field trips and the relentless, “Mom, will you drive? Mom, please?” I can only hope her determination to nag serves her well in the workforce, because it’s pushing my patience to the limits.
And then there’s homework—the true nemesis of my existence. The ridiculous projects teachers expect us (ahem, our kids) to complete are beyond me. Do we really need state reports? No, thank you! And as for reading at night after a long day of homework—are you kidding? You might as well expect them to brush their teeth too, right?
Fundraising is another pet peeve. It’s not the kids raising money; it’s the parents doing all the heavy lifting. We end up purchasing all the merchandise ourselves. Why not just write a big check in August and skip the endless magazine sales, gift wrap, and candy bars? Let’s not even get started on the science fair—a mother’s nightmare filled with glue, chaotic projects, and the risk of viruses invading our computers while we download instructions. Can’t my child just write a report about mold instead of cultivating it?
And let’s not forget those frantic mornings—missing the bus and then speeding to school to avoid a tardy slip. One more tardy and suddenly my child is labeled TRUANT? Really? Shouldn’t the school be focusing on more serious issues than a ten-year-old running late? At least my kids eventually make it—there should really be a medal for just showing up!
As kids transition into junior and senior high, it doesn’t get any easier. You might hope for anonymity after elementary school, but it’s a whole new ballgame. You’re now wrangling a hormonal teenager into completing homework, navigating school grade portals, and attending countless sports practices, games, and social events. The kids are hardly ever home, and neither are you—so the lawn goes unmowed, the trash piles up, and laundry? Forget about it. You’re stuck turning your underwear inside out because you haven’t been home to wash anything in weeks!
But then there’s that beautiful light at the end of the tunnel: summer break. The glorious reprieve from homework, projects, and tests. The days stretch out endlessly, allowing for spontaneous late-night trips to Target without worrying about catching a bus at 3 PM. The kids can spend their days at camp, with grandparents, or playing outside until sundown. The best part of summer? Sleeping in until 7:30 AM without the panic of missing the bus, taking leisurely showers instead of rushed ones, and choosing actual outfits instead of just a hat and yoga pants. Oh, and the bliss of sipping coffee from a real mug—imagine that!
Come mid-August, when school starts up again, I will be a tired, cranky mess, longing for the carefree days of June. Don’t expect me to handle it gracefully; I’ll be the one throwing a fit on the sidewalk outside the school. Don’t judge—deep down, you want to throw a tantrum too!
In summary, while school can be a source of frustration for both parents and kids, the arrival of summer offers a welcome escape. Embrace the freedom and joy of those sunny days, as they provide a much-needed break from the school year grind.
Keyphrase: summer break and school frustrations
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