School’s Back in Session
Back to School: When the Chaos Just Changes Schedules!
There’s something about the words back to school that makes it sound like life is about to become organized again. Truly I want to believe this. But moms, let’s be real. This is when the true chaos begins.
Waking up early, getting bags ready, and lunches? I would really like to say the night before, but let’s be realistic, you wake up 30 minutes before they and you need to be out the door and you are literally throwing them unmade sandwich supplies that they will need to assemble in lunch.
I can’t tell you how many times I have put the to go peanut butter containers and jelly packets in a baggie with bread and a plastic knife and said, “done, packed you a pbj sandwich.” And the mom of the year award goes to me!!!
The first day emotions, oh no, I’m not talking about the kids, I’m definitely talking about me. I’m not crying, you’re crying.
The assignments that your child waits to tell you about due the next day and you realize that they haven’t even started it yet. How many sleepless nights, Briant and I would sit up finishing a project that is due the next day long after we sent that child to bed because it was way past bedtime.
Our kids definitely don’t need perfection. In fact, I am convinced that it is Chaos that they prefer. Maybe I do too. I wish all you moms out there stressing as you are chugging along the absolute best! Let’s all be chaotic together!
I promise myself every year that this year will be different. I will be so much more organized. Unfortunately , that is not what happens. I actually feel like I become less organized as time goes on.
Ahhh, yes. Back to school. The truth is, the chaos didn’t go away. It just changed schedules.
So come the first day of school, as your kids are making faces while holding up their first day of school posters for their pictures, just remember that things don’t need to be perfect. Just enjoy the moment, enjoy your kids. This time will go so fast and then you will look back and wish this time back.
Maybe We Give Ourselves a Little Grace.
Maybe this school year doesn't need to be about doing everything perfectl Maybe we don't need Pinterest-worthy lunches every day. Maybe cereal for dinner once in a while is perfectly acceptable. (My son sometimes prefers this.) Maybe forgetting to sign a paper doesn't make us bad moms. Maybe the laundry can wait. Maybe we can stop comparing our behind-the-scenes chaos to someone else's perfectly posed first-day photo on Facebook.
