One week until school starts. I’ll have a 5th grader, 8th grader, 11th grader and college freshman.
I’ve bought some paper, some pens, some pencils, and a couple notebooks, threw them at the older three and called it good. Because that’s the type of loving parent that I am. That, and I haven’t gotten a single list, and no one really used the 4000 post it notes I was told they desperately needed for school last year, so I decided to go back to the basics this year.
I’m sure there’s a $200 calculator in our future. Hopefully the $200 calculator from last year will do. Hopefully we can find last year’s $200 calculator, and that Maura didn’t use it as a pretend cell phone then discarded it down an air vent or something.
But I’ve realized I lied – I did get a back to school supply list – for the 5th grader, which would be Maura. But not for Maura’s class, but for a typical 5th grader. Lots of pens, pencils, papers, folders, colored pencils, rulers, cases, etc. None of which she will be using. Not really. We got the fabulous back pack instead – and the matching lunch box.
Of course, now that the kids are all big and self-sufficient, comes the “What WILL you do when they all go off to school?” question. Right now, I have dreams of catching up on laundry. Maybe organizing rooms better. Re-organizing the pantry. And I don’t know…start writing another book. Work on getting the first finished one published.
Possibly even…watch a show that doesn’t involve singing ponies. Not that I don’t love singing ponies. But I’m still behind on Season 9 of “Supernatural” because the children have taken over the tv all summer. I shall also blare music not sung by ponies, and sing along loudly.
Oh yeah, and clean the carpets. I dream of cleaning the carpets first thing in the morning after everyone’s gone off to school, so that they have time to dry a bit before everyone comes back home.
The possibilities, they are endless.
One more week.
Meanwhile, here’s a song that I’ll be blaring and singing along to loudly next week. Who am I kidding? I’m singing along with it right now. “Way Back When” by Kodaline.
