Oh no, I gotta go…back to school
I have been waiting years for first grade. YEARS.
I’m a lousy stay-at-home-mother – never joined a playgroup, never went to Gymboree class, bake cookies only to satisfy my personal cravings. I’m a champion of women who work outside the home (or who work from home and require child care). I’m an unapologetic proponent of quality day care and pre-school.
But oh, the expenses. Quality day care and pre-school ain’t cheap, even when you’re pulling down a salary.
Kindergarten was pretty good. A half-day of education and entertainment, done far better than I ever could at home. Not to mention the fact that she finally got interested in reading, and that she made it through the year without arguing with her classmates over the existence of God.
First grade, though. She’s at school all day long – adhering to schedules, following rules, asserting her independence more and more all the time.
The only problem? All five of us need a wake-up call. Actually, a wake-up boot-in-the-ass would be better.
It started in kindergarten – afternoon kindergarten. Kyle had to be up and out of here on schedule, but the rest of us could lie around and watch Dora for a few hours. I wasn’t even concerned about getting CJ to school before 9.
Then Kyle started working from home, setting his own schedule. Waffles were an every day breakfast affair. CJ rarely made it to school before 10.
I was in my last trimester by this point, so I wasn’t in any shape to start cracking the whip. Frankly, I appreciated the slower pace, and it was wonderful to have Kyle around so much to help me with the girls.
But after Oliver was born, I started thinking about how first grade was going to kick our collective morning asses. And it has.
Tacy, who had been lobbying this summer for a nine o’clock bedtime (which, fortunately, was denied), could barely drag herself out of bed. She actually suggested pushing her own bedtime back from eight-thirty to eight o’clock.
CJ, of course, is chipper each morning. Until I turn off Dora and insist that she get dressed alongside her sister. “I don’ wan’ go school!” she protests. “Want WAFFLES!”
Oliver is happy as long as there’s a bare breast somewhere nearby.
Kyle and I try to take turns chasing the girls around in the mornings. If I’m up with Oliver more than once, Kyle takes the lead in the morning. If he’s up with CJ more than once, I’m on the hook. Either way, it’s not easy.
But is it better than paying for child care? Oh, hell yes.
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Have your kids gone back to school? Or are the miles of aisles of school supplies enough to spark your own back to school memories? Tell us about it (stud) at PBN during this weekend’s Blog Blast, sponsored by Hanes Kids. You could win a $50 GC to Hanes. Whooo…underwear for everybody!
Plus, win more stuff over at Mother Knows Best – I’ve got a Yoplait Kids’ lunch box, a My First Brain Quest game, and a coupon for free yogurt! Just take thirty seconds to leave a comment over there, and you’re entered.
August 22nd, 2008 at 5:43 am
The SAHM gig isn’t for me either. Childcare is a financial killer and session kinder is a nightmare (11 hours a week over 3 days – why bother) As an Aussie, it is 4 months until the new school year and both my kids are at school, only 4 months until I can breathe a huge sigh of relief – only one drop off and one pick up.
Currently I use TV as a bribe – they can watch only when they have eaten and are dressed and ready for school. Surely things will get easier. I hope you survive the early morning rush too.
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:30 am
I’m loving back to school here because it’s the first time my older two are both gone all-day. It’s SO nice so far!
Steph
Adventures In Babywearings last blog post..The Big One!
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:48 am
This is no joke — I’m such a chronic back-to-sleeper that I’ve set two alarms. One is far enough away that I actually have to move to shut it off, which wakes me enough that I have a fighting chance of getting myself and the kids out of the house on time.
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:40 am
I loved school. Loved it. I was packed, ready, waiting at the door at 7am. I’m sure I was annoying to my parents.
Now, I have a baby who insists on getting up at 4:30am on some days. All I can say is that he better still be an early riser into his school years. Or better yet, it will be my joyous payback time.
mandys last blog post..Giving Good Phone
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:48 am
Have nothing constructive to say, But thank you for sticking up for moms who use (and love) daycare. Because I’ve always had my kids in daycare and I’ve always worked…because I wanted to, not because I necessarily had too.
Issas last blog post..Love me some pain meds
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:35 am
Yeah, that getting up in the morning to get M to school kind of stinks, but she really likes first grade.
Heathers last blog post..Soundtracks
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:52 am
That was one of the toughest adjustments we had with kindergarten (full day) — having a Major Morning Deadline. Around here, we have one more week to sleep in and then the party’s over!
mayberrys last blog post..There’s Victorian, and then there’s VICTORIAN
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:08 am
I am NOT a morning person, so I totally feel you on that one. I have enough trouble dealing with my one little early riser, I can’t imagine trying to wrangle three! I feel like I struggle sometimes as a SAHM, but I can’t imagine not staying home with my daughter. Especially when my friends tell me how much they pay for day care! Having said that, after only 10 months I look forward to the future when I can put her in pre-school for an afternoon or two a week so I can have some time off. Mama needs a break.
Caras last blog post..Another Milestone
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:33 pm
I snickered all the way through knowing where you were going. Welcome to the big leagues, kiddo!
Aimee Greeblemonkeys last blog post..August Greeblepix Winner!
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:24 pm
You’re freaking me out. I do NOT have a morning person in Thalia. I had never even considered the fact that one day she might actually have to be somewhere in the morning and that I would somehow be responsible for it.
I need a governess.
Mom101s last blog post..The Truth About Two
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:28 pm
One more year of preschool and then both kids are in public (read: free) school.
I cannot wait!! Am counting down the months to financial freedom…
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:02 pm
The Boy starts full day kindergarten next week, and the poor thing is totally stressed, while all I can think is”Oh hells yeah, I’m getting a raise!” because I don’t have to pay for child care anymore…
manager moms last blog post..Saving The Drama For Her Mama
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:49 pm
I love your nighttime childcare division. Ours is like that too. I get up for the baby and my husband gets up for the toddler. We compare notes in the morning, seldom knowing exactly how well the other slept!
Lady Ms last blog post..There Goes My Heart
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:24 am
This is the second year of both kids in school. They started this week.
I’m hating the getting up in the morning but I’m loving the peace and quiet newspaper time. I’m still a SAHM but I’ve got myself into the PTO and church council mess that seems to be sucking up a lot of my time.
Those school aisles kill me. I feel like I need to buy new pens and cool folders and wonderful notebooks—for myself!!!!!!!!!!
kimmies last blog post..
August 23rd, 2008 at 10:07 am
I am sending my baby to Kindergarten on Monday with thoughts of the small fortune I am saving with the elimination of the world’s most expensive preschool bill! We have been doing the morning dance for WAY too long and the silver lining this year is ONE drop off and no one to pick up, Scott will get them off the bus.
Mama Mavens last blog post..Iron Girl Countdown
August 24th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
This is my second year sending both girls to school…for the entire day! After spending a portion of my girls’ college tuition on a private Montessori preschools for them, I’m happy they are in a PUBLIC Montessori Charter School – so happy about that!
I’m enjoying the new ’season’ of motherhood and time to find cool blogs like yours!
August 24th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I love the new look! Cool stuff, MGM!!
August 25th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Duuuuude…P has to be at school at 8am, as does TQ. So the huz takes her and she’s usually on time but P and I? we haven’t been on time once since school started. Even when he went to Mother’s Morning Out which started at 9am we couldn’t get there before 9:30am. After being my own boss for the past 8 years, structure has become a totally foreign concept.
Izzys last blog post..Naked Statue Men
August 25th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Hey, is the title of this post an homage to Grease 2? Because since I read it, I keep hearing that song in my head.
Izzys last blog post..Naked Statue Men
August 26th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
School always means me feeling torn between HATING the mornings and loving that there is peace in the house in the day.
Loralees last blog post..My name is James, that’s what mother called me…