Feeling a little sad today......

[mombrontrent]

Another school year begins here. I don't like the quiet house, I love having kids around all summer. This year I have kids going into grades 12, 9 and 5. I'm kind of sad that it's my sons last year of high school and my older daughter seems to have grown up before my eyes this past year and is now starting high school.

I'm not one of those parents who get excited for the return of school at all. I love the more relaxed, lazy days of summer. I love kids running in and out of the house all day, I love having their friends here all summer, I love waking up in the morning and seeing tons of shoes from various kids who have spent the night. I don't even mind hearing the kids make tons of noise all night long or the chauffeuring or the requests for more food. I love hanging out with my kids and their friends and doing fun things with them all summer when they let me!

I was driving dd14's boyfriend home last night and we were talking about what a great summer it was and how it went by so quickly and I told him how much I loved having him here all summer and we both were a little sad that it's over but I tried to get him excited about high school. The older they get the harder it is for my to send them off to a new school year. I guess I realize the years with them at home are quickly slipping by . And as much as a pain in the butt they are I just love teenagers!

 

[Neesy228]

I hear ya! Our kids are about the same ages and I totally understand how you feel. I have always said that I'm a "summer Mom" - I love the slower pace, the lazy mornings, the kids playing outside, late night ice cream runs, house full of kids...and I'm always sad when they go back to school. Mine started last monday, so I'm a week into it already and I'm slowly finding my groove. I do enjoy how quiet it can be during the day, so I focus on enjoying the peace and getting things done.

This summer went too quickly. We finished school in the middle of June and the back to school emails started to fly on August 1st. It only gives them 6 weeks of down time and it never seems like enough - for them or me!

I hope your kids all have a great first day and that you all ease into the hustle and bustle of the year successfully. You're definitely not alone!

 

[HM]

Hugs.

I, too, and a Mom that loves summer. My kids are college age now and I worked all during their growing years, so our situations are a bit different. But, I loved not having all the school year stuff to worry about , longer days, and lots more time together that summer brought. Still do.

You might want to find something more than your usual at home stuff to do to keep you occupied and less sad about the changes that are occuring as your children get older. A job, a new skill, volunteering, exercise, etc. could have pull you out of the dumps.

 

[mombrontrent]

Hugs.

I, too, and a Mom that loves summer. My kids are college age now and I worked all during their growing years, so our situations are a bit different. But, I loved not having all the school year stuff to worry about , longer days, and lots more time together that summer brought. Still do.

You might want to find something more than your usual at home stuff to do to keep you occupied and less sad about the changes that are occuring as your children get older. A job, a new skill, volunteering, exercise, etc. could have pull you out of the dumps.

I actually do work I work 32 hours a week, 4 eight hour shifts but living 2 minutes from work I come home for an hour everyday at lunchtime and see the kids that were awake then and often made them lunch

 

[cornflkgrl]

I'm a summer mom too, for other reasons. I totally get being sad about school starting. Start of school is start of constant stress for me.
Hugs to you.

When I'm having a rough day and I'm able to, I go see a movie all alone. It's fun. You might try doing something fun alone that you otherwise might not do while kids are off from school.

 

[Mokat76]

Another school year begins here. I don't like the quiet house, I love having kids around all summer. This year I have kids going into grades 12, 9 and 5. I'm kind of sad that it's my sons last year of high school and my older daughter seems to have grown up before my eyes this past year and is now starting high school.

I'm not one of those parents who get excited for the return of school at all. I love the more relaxed, lazy days of summer. I love kids running in and out of the house all day, I love having their friends here all summer, I love waking up in the morning and seeing tons of shoes from various kids who have spent the night. I don't even mind hearing the kids make tons of noise all night long or the chauffeuring or the requests for more food. I love hanging out with my kids and their friends and doing fun things with them all summer when they let me!

I was driving dd14's boyfriend home last night and we were talking about what a great summer it was and how it went by so quickly and I told him how much I loved having him here all summer and we both were a little sad that it's over but I tried to get him excited about high school. The older they get the harder it is for my to send them off to a new school year. I guess I realize the years with them at home are quickly slipping by . And as much as a pain in the butt they are I just love teenagers!

Aww. What a terrific tribute to your kids, their friends and you.

 

[HM]

I actually do work I work 32 hours a week, 4 eight hour shifts but living 2 minutes from work I come home for an hour everyday at lunchtime and see the kids that were awake then and often made them lunch

I work just a bit more than that at 32.5 and have since 2000; before that it was full time. I worked while they were in school and was off when they were. Summer time, they had camp while I worked. My favorite thing about summer was --no homework and no having to ask about it---.

 

[mombrontrent]

Yes the start of school means more stress for me to. The paperwork, lunches, nagging about homework, "you're going to miss the bus, hurry up", trying to drag three kids butts out of bed etc.etc.

I've never gone to the movies alone but I know my own mother does it all the time. I did go to the movies a bunch of times with the kids this summer. Appently I'm cool enough to be invited by dd14 and her boyfriend sometimes if I'm driving and paying

 

[BigAlsGal]

I too dislike the start of school. We started a couple weeks ago. It's already a pain. Daughter missed a day of school due to illness. Had so much work to make up. Teacher up our butts to sign this and sign that. I'm just going to have a stamp of my signature made so my kids can sign everything their teachers need.

 

[cabanafrau]

First year with both in college here. Have to say, I'm loving it!

 

[mjkacmom]

I'm happy to have the kids back at school, I want my house back, and I'm so tired of cleaning! However, my kids are ridiculously overscheduled and nights and weekends are crazy! And my 2 kids with drivers licenses are away at college.

I've been a SAHM for over 20 years, have 5 more years until the youngest 2 go to college, that is breaking my heart. It goes by so slow when they're little, so fast when they're older.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

My two started college classes today. Where did the time go? It's sort of a weird day, just at the tail end of Hermine, so it's sort of dark but sort of sunny, a little rainy, a little windy, branches fallen, etc. I guess it matches how I feel about it, which is mixed. Thankfully it's not as big a hit all at once as it seems - for a couple of years now they've sort of been doing they're own thing anyway, and I've continued to do mine. But senior year was a lot, trying to get two settled with college, while at the same time working and taking care of my now 91 yr old mother. So I'm pooped! And the quiet feels good today. (To me, at least; the dog is not too happy!) Plus, mine are commuting so I'll be seeing them here and there, and they'll still have their friends over, etc. - just in a different way, maybe, idk. I think I was sadder before, knowing the childhood years were coming to an end. Yeah, I think that was worse than now. Now feels like a positive, a new beginning. to all of us here whatever the stage.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

Same here - kids went into 11th, 7th, and 5th grades this year. My last year as a elementary school-aged kid's mom. I love the summer for all of the reasons you stated - I love seeing the kids sprawled out in the family room from a sleepover, and I don't mind stocking up on bottled water and snacks in the basement fridge for the kids to help themselves to when they come over. We had kids over all summer, and now it is so quiet! And I work 50-60 hours a week on average, so not having to worry about homework, getting kids to wake up, making sure this one has her gym uniform and that one has his sports equipment, and paying for after-school clubs, worrying about how the kids will get to school when it is thunder-storming or -10 degrees out in the winter (no bussing except for elementary in our district; HS is 1.5 miles and middle school is just over 1/2 mile away), and trying to keep track of 3 schedules from 3 different schools for the 2nd year in a row....it is too stressful!

And now, I have less than 2 years before I lose my oldest "baby" to adulthood. He is in the process of deciding whether to stay at home and commute to college or whether to go away, but I know that either way, having an eighteen year old college student in the house is going to be completely different than a "child". And I got his school pictures back last week (they started school Aug 15th), and even compared to his sophomore picture, it is amazing the difference! He still looked like a boy last year and now he looks like a man. A 6 foot, 200 lb man.

And DD - what a difference, too! She went through that 12 year old girl growth spurt and is now 5'6". Her face has changed to look more mature and she is shopping in the juniors section now. Even the biggest "kids" sizes don't fit her right anymore now that she has hips and curves! She is tall and has these beautiful long legs and bought herself her first bikini this summer. She lost that swayback little girl posture and is carrying herself differently now. Sometimes if I see her from a distance, I don't even realize it's her for a minute!

At least I still have my baby. My older two have always been tall for their ages, but my youngest has always been on the small side, so at least his childhood seems to have moves somewhat slower. He is 10 1/2 and still wears a size 8 and 3 shoe. Even though he is more than capable of taking care of himself, getting off the bus and letting himself in after school before the other two (who walk) get home, and can even cook for himself, he seems so much younger than the other two! I'm enjoying every second of it!

 

[puffkin]

I'm the opposite. Summer is my busiest time at work (I am in finance and do budgeting for a company that has a 9/30 year end, hence the next year budget is done in the summer). I normally work 40-45 hours a week, but during June/July it is more like 50-60. My youngest son is 4 and in daycare year round so no real change for him. My oldest is 10 and needs summer camp/daycare in the summer so that's an extra $200/week hit to our budget. Plus I have to pack lunches for him every day, he buys during the school year so more work for me in the mornings. He also does summer swim team so it is a constant struggle getting him to all the practices/meets due to my schedule. And then having to deal with all the kids who have no bedtime and me being the "terrible" mom who makes him go to bed when it is still light out...yeah, summer gets old quick in our house. We also can't really vacation in the summer due to our jobs, so we are "those" people who pull our kids every year during the school year.

Except for the homework part, I love the routine and order of the school year. My oldest thrives on a schedule and the routine of school, aftercare (where he typically finishes his homework), dinner, then practice (water polo, winter swim or baseball depending on season), reading then bed works for all of us.

 

[xlsm]

I told DH I was pulling the kids out of school and he was going to quit work, and we'd just sell everything and buy an RV so we could travel and not have to worry about a traditional school year schedule, LOL!!

It was a short lived bout of insanity.

The school year is so busy for me and for the kids...I volunteer and every year I overextend because I feel bad when anyone needs help. I'm on the school's PTO board (even though I didn't want to be initially, after a busy year last year), the district PTO board (oversees the individual school PTO groups, makes sure they're following the rules...everyone hates us, but I enjoy it and like the people on the board with me), and help coach Quiz Bowl and Odyssey of the Mind. Because of that I still get a lot of time with the kids and their friends. I have a bunch of their friends that I call "my kids" because they're around so often.

Both boys are in middle school this year, which makes my life easier than splitting time between there and their elementary school. My morning drop routine off has gone from 30 minutes to about 12 minutes.

The years just go by so quickly as they get older, I hate how fast they seem to be growing up, and knowing they'll be on their own before I know it.

 

[stitchfan75]

I like summer in that there is no homework, no getting up early to take kids to school, ect. I'm the parent that appreciates the parents like ya'll that have all the kids over because that means they're not at my house! I don't know if it's because I had a "different" upbringing but we've never really hosted sleep overs or had kids just randomly dropping by. I actually think part of it is our house, it's small, old, and compared to their friend's "mini mansions" pretty embarrassing.

 

[cabanafrau]

My two started college classes today. Where did the time go? It's sort of a weird day, just at the tail end of Hermine, so it's sort of dark but sort of sunny, a little rainy, a little windy, branches fallen, etc. I guess it matches how I feel about it, which is mixed. Thankfully it's not as big a hit all at once as it seems - for a couple of years now they've sort of been doing they're own thing anyway, and I've continued to do mine. But senior year was a lot, trying to get two settled with college, while at the same time working and taking care of my now 91 yr old mother. So I'm pooped! And the quiet feels good today. (To me, at least; the dog is not too happy!) Plus, mine are commuting so I'll be seeing them here and there, and they'll still have their friends over, etc. - just in a different way, maybe, idk. I think I was sadder before, knowing the childhood years were coming to an end. Yeah, I think that was worse than now. Now feels like a positive, a new beginning. to all of us here whatever the stage.

You're getting the right idea -- it is a positive, a new beginning. Personally I'm ready for the time in my life where I can focus some of that time and attention on things that I'm interested in again. Hopefully the whole roots and wings program I attempted to raise mine with worked out and I can spend some time not so attuned to the hustle and bustle of their activities scheduling and start firing my own into gear for a change.

 

[Kitty 34]

I haven't sent my children off to school in years, but I know how you're feeling, Mombrontrent.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

My youngest just started her senior year of high school...sniff sniff. I totally get where you are coming from OP!

On the other hand, moving DS into college for his second year was so much easier on my emotions than last year. The whole time DH and I were there his apartment was filled with excitement and joy with friends dropping by right and left. It was wonderful to see that DS is happy and that he is were he needs to be!

 

[jevs]

Another one who prefers the breaks, especially our Summer break even if it's a little shorter these days. No homework, no school lunches, no getting uniforms ready, no lost school shoes, no broken computers, no notes or phone calls from the school equals bliss in my opinion.

Unsure how I'd cope with my kids off at Uni, unless we move they would have to live on campus/shared house (isn't really the done thing here unless you opt for a uni in a different state or live in a rural location). I do miss the kids dreadfully when they're with their dad for longer than a few days, so feel for you.