When you’re a work-outside-the-home-mom there is very little (if any) difference between the summer camp schedule and the school schedule.
I still make lunches.
I still pack school bags (with books and gym clothes instead of bathing suits and sunscreen).
I still wake my children up early in the morning.
I still rush them through getting their hair and teeth brushed and dressing in weather-appropriate clothing.
I still hurry out the door by 8am if I’m lucky and I still rush home from work to do pick-ups.
I still buy supplies from a list they give you at the beginning of camp just like the list of supplies they expect your children to bring with them on the first day of school.
I still have to deal with the school and the daycare at least until my son is done with this ridiculous Kindergarten staggered start where he goes to school three of the nine days of school over the next two weeks.
Tomorrow morning, when I wake up bright and early at the exact same time whether it’s summer or September, I can’t think of a single thing that will be different with our morning routine (except maybe my almost 9 year old will want her hair straightened instead of in a summer-camp-necessity ponytail).
I will say however, that one of the best things about back to school for me is that the kids go to the same school for 10 months instead of a new summer camp every one or two weeks (with different drop off an pick-up hours and above listed supplies).
But the absolute best thing is the school bus. When it’s on time and actually stops where it’s supposed to, it means I get two of my three kids out the door by 7:30am and only need to manage to get one child to daycare. It also means that the after-school-nanny gets the kids off the bus in the afternoon so I don’t have to watch the clock every second at work to make sure I time my departure just right based on my guess of how bad the traffic will be from downtown to the suburbs.
Back to school is same old same old here. As long as the coffee pot is ready to go – so am I.
Next week, however, the grueling dance and cheer leading schedules start. Now that REALLY scares me.
Well for this stay at home mom it’s the most wonderful time of the year lol. Mine is only in senior kindergarten which is currently still half days. He goes in the afternoon which works well for this I don’t do mornings mommy. However it is still school which he loves and we both are looking forward to this afternoon.
I like this time of the year. It means schedules, early bedtimes, routines and normalcy as normal as our family can be!
we really go all loosey-goosey in the summer
Even though I work outside the home, it’s pretty different for us. We have a nanny so Evan has been home all summer. Today was his first day of Kindergarten. He did a half day starting at 1. Tomorrow it is a full day. I’m so glad we didn’t have a crazy staggered schedule that lasted forever.
Oh, I so hear you! Work part-time – start of week – have to be out the door by 7:30a.m. on days I work. I work 8:30-4:30 which sounds lovely – this week it is! – until like you, the extras start … and three times a week my eldest darling requires to be at dance for 5p.m.! I have morning routines down to a fine art, I am even adding in a twice weekly 6a.m. bootcamp for me but am still planning on a 7:30a.m. home exit ( no choice due to bus schedule!). The night is what scares me – as my kid is on a bus/at school/at daycare 7:45a.m. to 4:45p.m., then dance class 5p.m. to 8 p.m. with a dinner break 6-6:30p.m. I have a preschooler too, my hubby doesn’t get home until after six, so I have at night about 45 minutes to get an overtired 3year old home, make a semblance of a healthy meal and then convince said toddler to get back in the car to drive the meal back to dance …. and then when my husband travels, convince now really tired toddler to return to dance again at eight for pickup!
Thank God for wine .., if only I had time to drink it!
A really busy week for you. It’s really cute seeing our kids on their backpacks despite the fact that opening of classes could be extra stressful.