Today begins the last week of summer vacation. Every year near the end of the school year I am very ready for summer. I want the lazy days of summer and the break from schedules, homework and the cold weather. I long for the beach, warm summer days and easy schedules. But I am always ready for the school year to start again. I miss the structure of the day.

This year all 4 of my kids are going to school. DS 1 in 7th grade (2nd year of middle school), DD 2 in 4th grade at a brand new grade school (just built and opening this year, we didn’t move), DS 3 is starting Kindergarten (1/2 days in the AM) and DD 4 is starting preschool (3 days/week in the PM). I will not get any time alone, but for most of the day, I will have only 1 child at home. That is quite a break from the 4+friends I’ve had all summer.

Because of the new grade school opening in our neighborhood, my 2 grade school kids are going to a brand new school. It’ so new, they don’t even get a playground yet (don’t get me started on that one). I’m hoping that everyone has a great start. In the past few years, at least one (sometimes more) of my kids have had rough starts. They miss Mom. I didn’t think I was that great a Mom to warrant being missed, but I guess I am. :D It really is tough on me to just leave them in the classroom when they are in tears. It breaks my heart. I’d like to just take them home with me and never let them go, but I know that isn’t what is good for them. I have to let them go. They always do fine. And it usually isn’t the child that I think will have a problem. For instance, I think it would be my preschooler since it’s the first year she’s going to be in school and away from me, but it’ll probably be one of my older kids.

So, we are enjoying are last week of freedom summer. And then we’ll end the week with a birthday celebration…MINE!!!