Back to School: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Remember that commercial you used to watch on television each year at the beginning of August? The one that would make your teeth grind as a child, give you the heeby jeebies and make you dread what was coming? The start of a new school year, also known as the end of the lazy summer days, riding your bike around the neighbourhood, hanging out at the local pool and running through sprinklers.

Well, the shoe is officially on the other foot and I am unabashedly over the moon. My kids will be going back to school this week, and it’s the first time since entering the wonderful world of parenthood eight years ago that all my babies will be in school.

I am fiercely proud of the fantastic summer my children have had. It started with a trip to Mont Tremblant, followed by a month of running through sprinklers, riding bikes, going for walks, arts and crafts, baking, but also cleaning, dusting, vacuuming and grocery shopping.

This is the first year since having kids that I worked nearly full time (from home) while having the kids at home with me. While I debated enrolling them into summer camps, I was sentimental over this being my son’s last summer before starting his educational career and I wanted to make it extra special for him. One fabulous trip to Mont Tremblant popped that balloon pretty fast. I realized that it was equally important for my kids not to be spoilt or create a sense of entitlement.

They are old enough to help out around the house; be it loading and unloading the dishwasher, vacuuming, mopping, dusting or tidying their rooms. I had a friend joke that “I guess the cleaning lady has the summer off”. The reality is, my kids could not have had a funner summer (their words not mine!). They had a blast with me but understood that in order for us all to have fun, we all had to pitch in.

That being said, I could not be happier to send them back. I love my kids with my heart and soul yet recognize that it’s important for them to go back to seeing their friends, back to a routine, and also important for me to get some peace and quiet and back to my own work.

So, yes I’ve been grappling with anxiety over my baby starting kindergarten this year, but I’ll work through it. In the meanwhile you’ll find me skipping down aisles singing “it’s the most wonderful time of the year.”