* Don’t forget to join our book study on Lysa TerKeurst’s bestseller, Unglued – starts Monday! Click here for details.
Oh my heavens, people. What a week.
I just need to take a moment to exhale and acknowledge that I just sent my baby to Kindergarten two days ago.
That’s right. For the first time in nine years, I am alone during the day.
Five days a week, all day long. It’s a bittersweet thing.
Tears did brim my eyes and a few fell when I saw that baby sitting at his seat in his new class. They really fell when Jason sent me a text after I texted him a photo of the kids by the school sign.
It’s true the days are oh so long in that stage of screaming and getting into everything but trust me when I say this . . . the years are so very, very short.
But.
It’s pretty awesome to finally, FINALLY have some time to go to the grocery store without an entourage. I’ll actually be able to write ahead, people. I mean, I won’t have to fly by the seat of my pants every night around here. And consistent exercise? Yes. Please. (Hopefully.)
It doesn’t mean I don’t love my children because I love them like crazy. Beyond crazy.
But it’s been an exhilirating-ly exhausting nine years.
I want to do lighter stuff around here on Fridays because by Fridays, honestly, I’m just ready for some fun.
So since we’re on the subject of back-to-school, I need to share this post with you. I laughed so hard I nearly wet my pants as I sat (alone) at the kitchen table and read.
I can so relate to being ready for a more relaxed schedule by the end of May but by July, I am so completely ready for a structured routine I start waving the white flag and let the kids eat chips for breakfast, too.
And the best lines? When Jen Hatmaker says “Go the freak to bed!” and compares her house to a frat house.
So maybe I love those lines so much because I so get this. For the love.
And exactly two nights in, my boys have fallen asleep by 8 p.m. within three minutes of hitting the pillow.
Yep, that’s what I’m talkin’ about. I do indeed love you teachers out there.
What’s made you laugh this week?
Thank you thank you thank you! I love that you are “out there” and share your thoughts and ideas … It’s a gift! Thank you!
Hey, Rachael! Thank YOU, girl. So great to see you here – thanks for reading and commenting!!!
I too am thankful to be back to a regular schedule! Thank you for sharing the Jen Hatmaker blog…it brought me to tears I was laughing so hard! Because I can relate and don’t have to feel guilty about being the only one who feels that way, because I am not. (by the way, I shared it with my husband and he thought it was funny too!) My children went back to school on Wednesday and both of my boys are asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillows at 8:00 p.m. as well. Praise the Lord for some quiet time with my hubby in the evenings! :) Thank you for continually encouraging me with your blog! You always seem to know what I am thinking. I guess us Hoosier girls think alike! :-)
Oh, I hear you, sister. Really, really, hear you. I. Am. So. Freaking. Over. Late. Bedtime, thankyouverymuch. I almost can’t handle that it’s the weekend and we’ll slip back into it for two nights because I ONLY HAD TWO NIGHTS so far. I need more to get me ready for a weekend. :)
And thanks for your encouragement, Christine. Hoosier girls rock! Thank you for reading and commenting, friend.
Just put my baby on the bus for kindergarten on Wednesday. My BABY. My last baby, my youngest. And I’m crying and I’m breathing in my own space for the first time in 14 years. And it’s sad and wonderful and sad and it’s such a change. I feel like it’s a new chapter and I’m excited and worried about what is next. And my word, I’m exhausted because kids don’t’ get easier as they get older. Love Jen Hatmaker. She makes me laugh and it’s like she sees into my heart and mind and blogs it! lol
Oh, Val, I know…Isn’t it crazy weird? It IS sad and wonderful – so very bittersweet! I’m kinda missing my crew (for maybe about five minutes but we needed some spaces in our togetherness so I’m enjoying the quiet). We’ll get used to this new normal – eventually!
Thanks for reading and commenting, Val!!
By April, I’m counting down the days to where we can all be together all day everyday and spontaneously choose our daily activities, or plan ahead for some cool activity through the week. In June, I’m thinking that we are off to a bad start on keeping up with reading and flash cards, but we are having fun. In July, I’m thinking, school is about to start! Where did summer go?? Who cares about flash cards and reading, let’s enjoy this time while we’ve got it. By the end of July and early August, I’m thinking, bring on routine!! I miss having a schedule. We should have done a better job with reading and flash cards. ;) We have an age gap, so I’m not all alone yet, but I know it will be bittersweet. Right now, I’m thinking of all the “free time” I’ll have with only one kid to care for for a chunk of the day. :)
That completely sounds like us, Stephanie. I had really, really good intentions to do a little bit of school-related stuff each day – what was I thinking? We chucked that pretty early-on and had fun! Except…Last week when we were practicing name-writing, my youngest could not remember how to spell his name. Oh my stars. Oh, well – he’ll know how to spell his name by college, right? HA!
Thanks for reading and commenting, Stephanie!
Haha! My older son came home and told me he was “forth fastest” in reading. He was fastest most of the time last year. I said, “Well, I told you that you’d have to catch back up if we took the whole summer off.” His reply was always, “I know.” :) I consoled myself through the summer knowing that these days will be gone before I know it.
Made me laugh: Granddaughter in my backseat saying, “If I had a twin, she would have to live in her own room. Well, maybe she could live in my room, but I would have to LAY DOWN THE RULES…” She said some more, but I was too busy laughing and texting her mama to listen.
Hilarious, Kathi! If I can find the photo of Sarah’s “Room Rules” she posted on her door a while ago, I’ll send it to you. Perhaps Bunny could use them as inspiration??? Love it!