August arrives on our doorsteps next week, which means the start of a new school year is just around the corner.
For me, I have three gearing up for the event this year. And, excuse me while I grab the tissue box, but one of those three is my last one to enter kindergarten. We've sent four off onto that same journey, two of whom are now adults. So, the fourth day of September this year will be quite the bittersweet one for this mom as I face the reality that I will have no more little ones at home between the hours of eight and three everyday with me.
I think the first one we send to kindergarten and the last stirs about a little extra emotion for parents. For me, sending the last one symbolizes a new phase in my own life. I have always had children at home with me as I've always been a stay-at-home parent. When I began a relationship seventeen years ago with my husband, he had two amazing kids from a previous marriage. So, I was instantly in a mom role. That year, the oldest began kindergarten. Our second oldest started two years later. Then, we had the first of our three children together thirteen years ago. And, ever since that time, I've had, at least, one younger than five at home with me. So, facing an empty house on that first morning of school is going to truly be unchartered territory for me. I know many of you out there can probably relate.
Besides the obviously school shopping, there are some things to consider jotting on our to-do list during the month of August as we prepare for getting back into the swings of all things scholastic. Some of these are geared towards simplifying our lives and getting organized. Some are important to our children's safety. Others are things many of us probably don't think of until we're in one of those "I wish I would have thought of this sooner" moments.
