As the back-to-school season approaches, I find myself both excited and overwhelmed, feeling like I’m in a marathon where I’ve stumbled multiple times but keep pushing forward for the reward at the finish line. That reward? A few blissful hours of solitude and maybe even a midday margarita. Yes, I can almost taste it. We’re in the final stretch, and for some, school has already begun, while others have a few weeks left to savor summer.
We still have time to tackle that ambitious summer bucket list I enthusiastically pinned on the fridge back in May. You know the one, adorned with phrases like “TONS OF SUMMER FUN.” The optimistic planner in me envisioned countless adventures: days at amusement parks, trips to the Omnimax Theatre, lemonade stands, pottery painting, pizza-making nights, crafts, and even hiking. That planner was let go around week three of summer — the pottery project shattered her spirit (pun intended).
At the beginning of summer, we were all about those bucket lists, diving into arts and crafts inspired by Pinterest and indulging the kids with all the candy they wanted at the Trolls movie. We lugged beach gear, sunscreen, and snacks on our backs during a weeklong Florida trip and even embraced our muffin tops at the splash park, performing cannonballs to entertain our kids.
But let’s be honest: summertime can drain us. The sweltering days at the park, the whiny complaints at the pool, the endless sibling squabbles, and the constant chorus of “I’m bored” from kids who have no idea what true boredom feels like—coupled with the daily grind of meal prep for what feels like an eternity. Summer can feel like a long, exhausting stretch.
As we count down the days until we can send our kids off with their new backpacks filled with freshly sharpened pencils and meticulously selected school supplies, we look forward to the peace that comes with their return to school. Just think about it: a couple of hours by the pool all to myself, the chance to book a massage on a Wednesday morning, and the bliss of an afternoon nap in an empty house, listening only to the gentle hum of the air conditioner.
Sounds heavenly, right? But this is where the love-hate relationship kicks in.
The reality of back-to-school means dealing with the stress of homework, especially for my fifth grader. I dread the thought of the complex fraction and geometry problems he’ll bring home. Not to mention the second grader’s homework, which seems to have become exponentially tougher since I was in school. And don’t even get me started on the kindergarten assignments. I’m already consulting Google for answers—what happened to the basics?
Then there’s the dread of that 6 a.m. alarm, waking up four kids to get them dressed, fed, and out the door by 7 a.m. And let’s not forget the daunting task of packing lunches for four kids every single day for nine months. Just thinking about it makes me feel lightheaded.
Back-to-school also means transforming into Taxi Mom. So, ladies, it’s time to clean out those minivans because we’ll be living out of them for the next nine months! Between school drop-offs, practices for academic teams, piano lessons, and various soccer practices, I’m dangerously close to considering a minivan plunge into a ravine on particularly chaotic days.
Perhaps the hardest part for us moms in the northern regions is the arrival of the colder weather. Those brisk September mornings, the damp, chilly October days, and the frosty November sunrises that make getting out of bed feel like a monumental task. And then there are the frigid, snowy December mornings when hunting down four winter coats, hats, boots, and mismatched gloves feels impossible. I’m exhausted just thinking about it.
Suddenly, those sweltering park days and popsicles on the swing set don’t sound so bad anymore. Yes, summer is coming to an end, and while we’re tired, a different kind of exhaustion is just around the corner.
So, let’s make the most of these final 90-degree days. Let the kids chalk up the driveway, stay up late to catch fireflies, and make one last cannonball into the pool. We need to finish strong, Moms. Focus on that prize at the end of the tunnel.
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In summary, as we prepare to send our kids back to school, we embrace the mix of excitement and stress it brings. We look forward to the newfound freedom, yet we brace ourselves for the challenges ahead.