In honor of another back-to-school day where I feel torn between jubilation and anxiety, I’m reposting what I wrote last year at this time.
“The kids went back to school today. I started freaking out about it Friday and proceeded to organize everything in my house, like it would somehow protect them from bullies, mean teachers, yucky food, and head lice. If everything was in just the right spot, what could go wrong? (I realize this is nuts. Thanks.)”
I was sick Thursday and Friday and in the ER Saturday so I didn’t actually start organizing until Sunday.
“I think I did pretty good at hiding my back-to-school and sending-my-baby-to-Pre-K anxiety from the children. I was all hearts and flowers and “It will be SO MUCH FUN! Aren’t you EXCITED?!” But inside I was like “Waaaaa! My babies.””
This year I have a kindergartener, a sixth grader, and a junior. Oh. My. God.
“I’m not alone in this. My husband has called me three times this morning, the last time to ask if he “should just go take a peek and see how she’s doing.” No. That’s frowned upon. I know my limits, so I’m just staying away from that school. If any of the three kids even wrinkled a nose at me, I’d have ‘em packed in the car and the homeschool books ordered.”
My husband is generally very calm and he is still calm today, but he is very worried about the bus situation. The bus situation consists of our kids riding the bus. Shut up, it’s a situation.
“I see the pros of school. Interacting with peers, learning to follow rules, getting along with others, learning how to deal with assholes – these are all things children need to know. But not every kid is a yellow #2 pencil. I don’t want my purple-striped, glitter-covered, shiny-polka-dotted, maybe-chewed-a-little-bit pencils sharpened down until they match all the others.”
This. *sigh*
Respond to this lunacy here.