Quiet

I have never been a mother who does the "My children are back in school" dance. Apart from the fact that I am not a good dancer, and apart from the fact that I really don't enjoy fitting in with the status quo, I miss them when they go back. I miss their laughter, and spontaneous hugs and kisses. I miss the lack of a schedule and wearing nothing but jammies all day (or until a friend calls or the doorbell rings and we morph into panic mode.) So here's a new one for me:

I am happy to announce that my children have returned to school following a week of "Winter Break."

Despite their insomnia the night before, their cries in the morning, their mother's oversleeping thus causing the teenager to miss breakfast, the rush to finish packing lunches, the traffic, I am delighted to see them go. The bickering, the obsessive video gaming, the way my daughter was devouring 600-page books. Wait a minute. I just got a little confused.

Returning to school comes with a price, though. You probably know that price well. It's the social traumas, the homework and other projects, the worn-out school supplies, the need to get to bed on time, the need to have food in the house to make lunches, the need for clean clothing, the need for the mother to look presentable when delivering children to school and retrieving them seven hours later.

Nevertheless, the kids have gone back to their teachers and friends. And what of my school schedule? MY break begins in three weeks -while my children are in school.

Kind of funny how that just happened to work out :)