I need school to start.
I do. I really do. I have felt a low-level angst all week, and it’s because we are existing in a weird in-between plane and:
- I have not been able to have undisturbed time to get pod/blog/etc work done for nearly 3 weeks now. Yes I have childcare. No, it doesn’t matter. It’s still not the same as an empty house (and I have been running around doing dr appts / dentist appts / back to school shopping / etc).
- The kids and I are still not fully adjusted to the correct time zone (don’t get me wrong; I’m still getting up early + running before work, but it doesn’t *feel* right in my body yet and I think the kids are also still 1-2 hrs behind)
- I just have this weird starting line energy that needs to dissipate, and I know I will feel better once we are actually IN the next season
(If the disgusting summer weather could also go away that would be awesome, but it won’t. Fun fact: September temps in south FL are basically the same as the prior 3 months! BOO.)
(Just because I feel like it’s only fair, here’s the positive side of living here:
ALSO! I kind of want to switch planners. This is 100% stress related, but also . . . I am finding my current system to be extremely functional yet devoid of joy for whatever reason. I think I am going to play with an undated Aura Estelle insert + an old Hobonichi cover — especially since every single August I get very excited about Hobonichi again, and this year is no exception!
The good news is that I don’t have long to wait, because A/C have half-days (orientation) tomorrow and then all 3 start for real on Monday. I’m even slightly excited for G’s parent orientation today though this is actually her 4th year in that classroom so if I’m not oriented by now I’m not sure there’s hope?
Anyway, yay! More later. I will now attempt to get to inbox zero (from a ~3+ week backlog) in 2 hours. Can it be done? I will report back . . .
15 Comments
Yep — I find these transitional weeks hard too. The idea of that starting line energy needing to dissipate is a good analogy. Hang in there! We’re in the thick of orientations this week with school starting next week and I’m feeling very ready to have some silence in my house from time to time too.
shoulder season angst in full effect here as well. in solidarity.
We will be hitting the transitional period soon, too. Our 5yo’s summer program ends next Wednesday and he starts schools 2 weeks+1 day later. He’ll spend a week+ at my parents lake home but we will have 4 other workdays to cover. I’m hoping my MIL can cover his last 2. I wish he would just start K on Sept 5th when all the other kids in his school start… but I know this shorter first week is intentional – it just isn’t really necessary for a kid who is used to be in 10 hours of care already! But I am super excited for him to start although now I am feeling like a complete moron for getting his name embroidered on his L.L. Bean backpack… I understand the risk but I also don’t know when he will be out wandering around unmonitored? He’ll be in school or in before/after care where there are strict policies about who can sign him in/out. I didn’t spend much on his backpack since the pattern he liked was on clearance but now I feel like I need to get him a new one or have my mom sew a patch over it or something? As a rationale mom of 3 kids, on a scale of 1-10, how much should I worry about this?? 🙂
We worried about it for A and not at all for G – her backpack last year had her name!
Ok phew! Will put it out of my mind and not worry about it. My MIL commented on it when Paul told her about his school supplies!
Always the MIL 😉
Yeah, I have many mom fears (cars, they are always about cars) but stranger danger is much lower on the list.
We had a good first day back and day two was rough. I could tell something was wrong when he whined all the way home. We had more crying in the two hours between home and bedtime than we had all summer… poor bub. Piecing together the sobs with notes with his bestie’s mum and it turns out they mixed up the class groups and there was something T got confused about and felt silly.
Plus he and his bestie put pencils through their uniform polos. T fessed up to it, she told a less convincing story and I think the “I’ve done something stupid and mummy is going to be cross…” might have weighed on him all day.
Just want to say I am impressed you are a runner in those temps. Even your winter lows are above my complaining zone (60+).
I was so proud of myself for running when it was 75 degrees here yesterday. I don’t know how you do it.
I’m just hoping it will translate into being faster when it’s cooler! I do think there is some degree of acclimation that happens. Or you just get used to feeling really hot and sweaty (my running friends and I note that our shorts after long runs basically feel like wet diapers 😂)
I think it will! Kind of like running at altitude!
Sarah, I don’t know how you US parents cope with your long summer break. Here in England we have 5 full weeks and it still feels like an age. I also have a stress-related planner change up EVERY August! Shockingly, I am feeling no temptation to order Hobonichi for 2024!
I am so ready to go back to work … also routine related. anyway i totally understand the child chaos. AND I do have only one child at home at the moment ( but a 2 yr old) anyway, i am so ready for routines to be back and productivity to come back. I loved this extended vacation , but felt a little bit long for me ( ugh , i know, how can i complain with my 3 weeks vacation). I do feel the anxiety of going back to work being very present today… we’ll see how things go monday. And children are back to school only sept 4th here ( it feels so long ^^).
I say let’s just fast forward to January. It always seems like September is HOTTER than the other summer months. October will still be hot, be at least we can start to hope. Anyway… “It’s still not the same as an empty house.” Yes!!! Having the kids home all summer (or, for most of the summer) made it very hard to focus and get things done. Even though my kids are older and independent! They can take care of themselves, but somehow the house felt so crowded and noisy.