The end of the school year is a roller coaster. In April I step into a car that cranks to the top of a steep hill. I am overwhelmed by what lies ahead.
May starts the plunge. I hurtle through field trips, final projects, volunteer duties, teacher appreciation week, school carnival, international night, choral concert, field day and thank you gifts.
As I accelerate, I grip the bar, plant my feet, and close my eyes. The bottom of each drop is a chance to regroup, a few second respite to focus on the next hill. Enjoy this, I think. I do, a little, but the activities, scheduled so close together, have a concussive effect. Oops, I missed the deadline for [insert sale/event here] and did I already write a check for that? The coaster zips along, the wheels threatening derailment as they undulate on the track.
The effort required to keep up with four kids' school lives is titanic. The amount of paper to process - reading logs, permission slips, and flyers for special events - is daunting. Our elementary school has a terrific community in which the kids want to participate and for that, I'm grateful. If we're in the amusement park, we may as well ride all the rides.
At the end of the week I say TGIF knowing that weekends with soccer, baseball and birthday parties require more scheduling than weekdays. Without Outlook Calendar and carpools I would be a vampire in daylight.
So I hang on until the second week of June when the school year ends as gently as it began. I'll get off the coaster, catch my breath, and think that wasn't so bad. Released from schedules, the kids and I will welcome summer vacation and its unscripted adventures.
May starts the plunge. I hurtle through field trips, final projects, volunteer duties, teacher appreciation week, school carnival, international night, choral concert, field day and thank you gifts.
As I accelerate, I grip the bar, plant my feet, and close my eyes. The bottom of each drop is a chance to regroup, a few second respite to focus on the next hill. Enjoy this, I think. I do, a little, but the activities, scheduled so close together, have a concussive effect. Oops, I missed the deadline for [insert sale/event here] and did I already write a check for that? The coaster zips along, the wheels threatening derailment as they undulate on the track.
The effort required to keep up with four kids' school lives is titanic. The amount of paper to process - reading logs, permission slips, and flyers for special events - is daunting. Our elementary school has a terrific community in which the kids want to participate and for that, I'm grateful. If we're in the amusement park, we may as well ride all the rides.
At the end of the week I say TGIF knowing that weekends with soccer, baseball and birthday parties require more scheduling than weekdays. Without Outlook Calendar and carpools I would be a vampire in daylight.
So I hang on until the second week of June when the school year ends as gently as it began. I'll get off the coaster, catch my breath, and think that wasn't so bad. Released from schedules, the kids and I will welcome summer vacation and its unscripted adventures.
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