Thursday, August 30, 2012

Having my kids go to school wears me out!

Nearing the end of our 1st week back-to-school and we are all dog tired!

I was sitting in a parent orientation with a fellow mom in my youngest daughter's preschool classroom and she was saying, "I'm just so tired!  I don't know why, I'm just tired."  I know she has an elementary-aged son in addition to the 3 year old girl who is in my daughter's class.  I said, "It's back-to-school.  The getting up early, the simultaneously packing lunches and serving breakfast, getting everyone out the door before 8am, rounding everyone back up at pick-up time, dealing with all the forms sent home from school, not to mention navigating the moodiness of extra-tired kids in the late afternoon hours!"  She was like, "That's it!  I hadn't thought of it until you said that, but that's exactly why I'm so tired!"

I'm so glad we have the 3 day weekend coming up to rest and re-group before another week!

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Might I also mention the 6 page registration packet I had to fill out on each of my 3 elementary school kids?  Homework for moms is not cool, not cool at all!

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This is probably, okay definitely, not the best time to try giving up my daily Coke Zero, but I'm doing it anyway.  It's something I've wanted to do for a long time for health benefits.  I have some cancer history and lately there's been a ton of stuff coming out about the hazards of that caramel coloring.  I'm substituting iced green tea because I've also been wanting to add green tea into my diet for its health benefits, but so far it doesn't give me quite the same energy burst to breeze through my afternoons of ballet/soccer/swim lessons/homework-shepherding/dinner-making, hence the dog tiredness. 

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On a happier food front, I'm loving my latest go-to lunch for myself.  It is a whole-wheat tortilla I spread with hummus then add spinach leaves, sliced tomatoes, sliced yellow and red bell peppers and roll the whole thing up -- yum!  Really, don't knock it until you've tried it.

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This week I've also decided that it's easier to have all 4 of my children home with me all day than it is to just have my 3 year old.  

Turns out over the summer her siblings filled much of Little Girl's need for constant attention and entertainment.  And days like today when she doesn't have preschool and it's just she and I?  No matter how much one-on-one, quality time I give her, as soon as I shift gears to tackle something on my to-list it starts.  Literally every 15 seconds it's something.  "Mommy!"  "Mommy look at me!"  "Let's play game!"  "I'm thirsty."  "Let's go outside!" "Oh no, look, I spilled my water!  My shirt is wet, can I change clothes?" "Where are we going today?"  "I'm hungry"  "Is it time to pick up the kids from school?"  "Is it my school day?"  "Swim lessons?!!"  "No swim lessons!  Why not?"  "Can I help you cook mom?"  I let her stir but she's not satisfied.  "I can cut with the knife.  I'll show you.  I can do it.  I am bigger, Mom.  I am!"  "Mom, don't you think I'm bigger?"

And that's just a glimpse of about 3 minutes of my day!

So, all that could explain the dog tired, too.

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It will get easier, I know it will.  

I remember this time with my 3rd child before he was old enough to go to big school with his older siblings and he pestered me to no end the first couple of weeks.  

And we'll all settle into the new routine and then making 3 lunches while serving 4 breakfasts and helping littles put on socks will not wear me out, right? 

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 My house does stay cleaner, though, when all four children are not home all day.  I can pick things up and they sort of stay clean until 3:15 when the house blows up again!

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I found this little happy note while straightening the playroom.  The 9 year old must have written this note for his 7 year old sister when she was sick the beginning of the week.


Makes me happy that they care about each other!

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Now I intend to stop blogging about how tired I am and just go to bed.  You're welcome!

Happy Friday, Friends!


8 comments:

  1. I know what you mean about the back to school routines and how much easier it is to entertain the toddler when they're all home... I just realized that I forgot to pack my son's lunch for the morning (something I usually do at night) ... debating now about getting up to make it or leaving the work to hubby...

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  2. One nice thing about a blog - a place to complain and even rant if necessary.
    Ever since the Air Force I've hated filling out forms. You would think they would be offered online by now. I suppose the 3yr old is adjusting to the change in daily activity too. Have a good school year.

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  3. Oh the constant questions ... I know ALL about that. One thing, my house, even with two kids still home, is SO much quieter who that three are off to school.

    Happy Friday. Take a nap. Good snuggling/bonding time with your littlest and good rest for mama.

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  4. It makes you wonder why we have so many papers to fill out for school. The technology is there. Why can't we fill it out online?

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  5. I love the post-it note. How sweet.

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  6. I too love the sweet note. the stick figures look so much like the ones my kids drew when they were younger.

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  7. Yes the note is just adorable! My kids are all grown now but I have not forgotten how tired I was the entire first semester back to school. I still think homework should be outlawed and those packets should be given out early so Moms can fill them out over the summer. My 3 year old granddaughter starts 3 day preschool next week. She has a 10 year old brother that adores her and a 17 year old sister that she terrorized all summer. Now that they are in school, she is driving my daughter nuts!

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  8. You are exactly right about why we are tired. I hope this weekend allowed you to catch your breath. I had to laugh while you were detailing three minutes of life with your three year old. All I could think of was, WOW, she has learned SOO much English! Go girl!

    I hope you have a wonderful short week this week!
    Hugs

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