The Ups and Downs of Back to School

The First Day of School this past week was an exuberant day for me.

I don’t know this for sure (but highly suspect) that parents all over my community did a Happy Dance of Glee while secretly cracking open a bottle of celebratory wine after their youngsters boarded the big yellow bus to commence nine months of learning.

The kids however, had a permanently plastered look of disdain on their little kissers because their ninety-day reign of being couch slugs and eating machines had officially ended. Such a harsh, cold world it is when you are a Middle Schooler.

The reality is that I really do have mixed feelings about my kids heading back to school.

Part of me wants to roll on the floor of my now quiet living room shrieking, “I’m FREEEEEEE,” but another part of me feels sad that yet another season of fun is over.

Basically, my POV is that there are BOTH “upsides” and “downsides to the fact that yet another summer has drawn to a close.

Downside: The “lazy slowness” of summer is pure heaven for a mom who works from home. I purposely shift my working schedule around these non-hurried days of sun and fun to include sleeping in and impromptu adventures. On a day when no one has to be anywhere, that lazy slowness is especially delightful.

Upside: Structure is good. Though we all appreciate the laid back pace, by month #2 out of 3 everyone begins to get restless and on each other’s nerves. Schedules also tend to get a little too lax and we will find ourselves eating “brunch” or “very early lunch” every day because we all stayed up until unspeakable hours of the night. Getting back into a routine may take a few days, but kids thrive on knowing what’s next on a consistent basis.

Downside: Our adventures are limited to the weekends. No more spontaneous road trips, ice cream runs or visits to State Park or grandma’s house whenever my schedule allows and the weather cooperates. Our fun needs to be more planning and purposeful and are subject to fluctuating autumn temps and the amount of miles we can travel in a day.

Upside: There will be new adventures-a different kind. My 5th grader came home after the first day of school chattering with excitement about the possibility of Equestrian Club, choir and even cooking class. My eighth-grader expressed interest in after-school sports-a first for him. I highly encourage both to sign up for something because these new adventures and challenges lead to new friends and experiences; all of which are woven into the fabric of the school year memory-making.

Downside: The beginning of school will put a damper on the routine of cooking hearty meals three times a day for my kiddos. This summer my 10 year-old daughter finally expressed interest in cooking-related activities and I believe (at some point) she will be the next Bobbie Flay or Rachel Ray. Hey, mama can dream (plus I want her to take care of me when I’m old). Watching her bloom in this department has been a joy and our mother/daughter cooking times have been the highlight of my summer. P.S I loathe packing lunches.

Upside: Constantly feeding small human who are like hungry squawking birds was enough to make me think that Ramen was a good thing. My food budget has also been screaming UNCLE! for three months and the looks of sympathy that I’ve been getting from supermarket staff (especially when I tote my 5’11, 165 pound 13 year-old son with me) have not gone unnoticed. I suspect my local grocery start will be building a new branch office soon thanks to my summertime shopping monetary donations. Not only is my pocketbook getting a break, my youngsters now have to plan for more regulated mealtimes and Boredom Noshing will be on hold for at least another nine months.

Downside: I will have less time with my kids. I love my kiddies.

Upside: I will have less time with the kids. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE my kids, but as someone who works 100% from home, I am more than a little “over” being on the Entertainment Committee and Head Referee who needs to field a steady stream of “I’m bored” or “Jake is hogging the gecko” complaints. In reality, I’m the notorious “gecko hog.” I really love the little bugger. ALSO -I get the gecko all to myself from 8a.m.-3p.m. #winning

Downside: My 10 year-old and 13 year-old will have less time to hang out together. They both share a love of our pets, Minecraft and being in nature.

Upside: They also share a love of bugging each other and bickering. Based on my above comments about me being Head of the Entertainment Committee and Head Referee, my two darlings could seriously use a break from each other. My fifth-grader is a Diva in Training and the eighth grade boy is going through the, I’m Too Cool for the Room stage. Like oil and water, I tell ya.

Downside: It means we are all getting older.  A brand new school year marks a milestone of the advancement to a new grade and a new level of maturity. It also means that life is marching forward a little too fast for this mom’s liking.

Upside: It means we are all getting older. Older doesn’t mean “less,” “depleted” or “diminished.” It simply means we are navigating this journey of life together and every year brings new changes, more wisdom, more patience and more chances to do different things as a family.

The Season of Parenthood goes by so fast. Don’t wish your children’s years away. Embrace every bruise, heartbreak, frustration, lost mitten, missed school bus, lost homework and parent/teacher conference as just another piece in the Giant Puzzle known as Parenthood.



Rebecca Flansburg is a Mom, Blogger, and Freelance Writer. Her veteran blog FranticMommy is all about moms, kids, parenting, and women in business (with a healthy side order of FUNNY). Rebecca prides herself in her ability to write in a fun, fresh, and conversational way and totally appreciates the value of naps and large quantities of chocolate. You can connect with her on Instagram and on Pinterest.