Two days to go before the old routine returns. I’m still in a place that fits the Fianna Fail slogan of yesteryear –  “a lot done, more to doâ€. Half the books are covered, most of the twistables have been painstakingly, individually labelled (for all the difference it will make) and I know where the majority of the uniforms are. All I need now, is the motivation to finish the job in hand.
I always quite enjoy the first day back at school. The children aren’t quite as resistant as they will be a week later. There’s a nice buzz around the school yard as parents and kids alike catch up with each other after the long summer break and “new school year†resolutions are made. There’s a definite Pollyanna feel to the whole day.
I will admit that the house will seem quieter when I return from the drop, especially this year as child number six, my resident foghorn, starts Montessori. Child number seven, no doubt will be confused for a while, when there are no brothers or sister to play with. I, in the meantime, will surely find it strange to look out my kitchen window without seeing Captain America, from the corner of my eye , run by without any trousers on, followed in hot pursuit by Spiderman, identifiable only by his calls of “I’ll shoot him with web†as Spiderman, in this house, often prefers to go completely au naturel.
It will be an adjustment for a while and I will definitely miss them. Â Not having to resolve a hundred arguments a day will help ease the pain. My neighbours will doubt miss hearing my gentle tones, ones they have become very familiar with over the course of the Summer, as I lovingly called to Spiderman to stop bouncing on the trampoline and come inside immediately to put on some clothes.
All good things must come to an end and so Summer 2016, I bid you adieu. It’s back to early starts, homework, school lunches and after school activities. What doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger, the saying goes. I wonder does that apply to school projects too……
