Can you hear that? It’s the sound of frenzied moms across the country stuffing all kinds of junk into garbage bags and cleaning out every drawer in the house before school starts. (Or maybe you already have.) If you’ve been keeping up with my Instagram stories this week, you know I’ve been in a bit of a tizzy and I 100% blame it on the back-to-school scramble that comes every August. You know how they say May is the new December? I disagree. I think it’s August.
Why do we do this to ourselves? I always feel like every t-shirt has to be folded, every sock has to be matched, everyone has to have new underwear and every shelf in my fridge has to be wiped down and filled with healthy lunch choices (knowing good and well that I’ll be praising the Lord above come late September when, in the wee hours of the morning, I find a hidden Lunchable I didn’t know was there). We always start off strong and full of hope, don’t we??
We are less than two weeks out from the beginning of school here and as I mentioned last week, this will be the first time I’ll be sending all five of my “babies” off. I’ve told my friends this will be the first time I’ve been alone since 2004. ;) I should be sad about this. Right? Right??
All of this to say, you’ve always been so kind when I’ve needed breaks. And I need one now. So, follow along on Instagram, if you like, and I’ll be taking a little time away from the blog until after Labor Day when I’ll return to a more regular schedule. In the meantime, I’ll be at home arranging my Tupperware drawer, cleaning out underneath beds, sneaking bags to Goodwill and packing carrot sticks that not one of them will eat just so I can feel better about myself as a mom after this Summer.
Amen.
Enjoy!!! And I give you full permission to spend those new “free time” hours with coffee breaks, new books and shopping. For blog research, of course!
Of course! ;)
Lol packing carrot sticks that no one will eat… that’s so me 😆 I bought some Tupperware with compartments just for “healthy snacks” that my son won’t eat either. At least we tried right? Enjoy your “me time” after they all start school!
Good for you! I will MISS YOU but totally understand. Enjoy!
Yes! This is SO true for me and made me lol! I’m in the middle of rearranging my living room and decluttering this very minute! 🙈
Yes and yes! This is why I love reading your blog and why I find it so refreshing. Enjoy the time with your family!
Thank you!
Emily, It is a big job to love and manage five babies in this lifetime! My five are all grown with littles of their own now, but every August I still think about setting new rhythms for the seasons ahead. Something about structure after a summer of freedom and plenty of fun always seems refreshing for me. I like to know where things can be found and that order has been somewhat established. Even though I am retired, my t-shirts still need to be thrown out and some reorganized! Your kids are so precious and I know that you will enjoy some balanced time to move forward as their mama!
Thanks for the encouragement :)
I feel you, mama. I feel you.
I no longer spring clean- it feels like a waste of time with kids home all summer! I fall clean and I have left my kids in the hands of the iPad the last few days while I cleaned and organized like a crazed maniac! Enjoy your quiet time and pat yourself in the back- you deserve that!
What I remember about the first day all my kids went off to school….breakfast out, followed by a movie of MY choice that didn’t involve cartoon characters, followed by a walk without my barky dog, followed by, sigh, laundry, and then picking up the kids. It was heaven except for the laundry. Enjoy your time off!
Sounds like a good day to me!
Literally laughing out loud reading this!😂😂 At least I know I am not alone in this fierce back to school battle!
and….you will truly miss this when they are grown. Enjoy!
so true! I do fall cleaning, not spring cleaning!
I felt the same way when my youngest started kinder and I didn’t have anyone home with me after 10 years. A new reality and new memories ahead.
Enjoy the break :-)