Most Wonderful Time of the Year

[sunshiinedays]

Yikes, I certainly wasn't calling anyone a bad mother!?! But I really think there is an attitude here that children are such a burden on parents though. And in the media, they are often portrayed negatively. And I think that's sad.

I do sympathize for all those parents out there who need a break now and then. I'm a single mother myself, I homeschool, and I only get an hour or two a week away from my children, if that even.

 

[burn97]

Corban's getting ready to turn 7( he's in the 2nd grade) and I'd swear he's going through his teenage rebellion stage. Mouthy, rebellious, ect. Personally I spend just as much time at school, with his teachers and principal ( well at least it feels like it )
I use to think that I was the worse mom out there, such a hyper, mouthy, getting in trouble for not keeping his seat and wanting to play rather than learn, wrestling, ect, but then I met the other parents, and I found out that the other boys do the same thing.... get in trouble for the same things.....
anyone else have this problem?
(He's not ADHD or anything and the kicker is that he's one of the smartest kids in the class, even though he doesn't 'seem' to pay attention )

 

[RoseofLima]

Another bad mother here. I say kuddos to those that can be around their kids constantly without pulling their hair out. I love my kids more than anything, but I know my limits. I would not be a good mom if my kids didn't go to school to give me a break from their drama for a bit. I'm always so excited when summer starts and I plan fun stuff for us to do. By the time school starts back I'm doing the happy dance too. Our fun time is over and they have been bored and fighting for awhile by then. Doesn't mean I think my kids are burdens, in fact having 2 special needs kids I have more of a burden dealing with stuff during the school year than not.

LOL! I'm around my kids all the time--but no one evertold me I wasn't supposed to be pulling my hair out!

 

[HeKnowsMyName]

What I like about back to school time is that we get in a routine. It just makes life easier. I do try to have a routine in the summer, but it's more lax than by school routine for DD.

 

[LovesToRead]

Corban's getting ready to turn 7( he's in the 2nd grade) and I'd swear he's going through his teenage rebellion stage. Mouthy, rebellious, ect. Personally I spend just as much time at school, with his teachers and principal ( well at least it feels like it )
I use to think that I was the worse mom out there, such a hyper, mouthy, getting in trouble for not keeping his seat and wanting to play rather than learn, wrestling, ect, but then I met the other parents, and I found out that the other boys do the same thing.... get in trouble for the same things.....
anyone else have this problem?
(He's not ADHD or anything and the kicker is that he's one of the smartest kids in the class, even though he doesn't 'seem' to pay attention )

Please bear with me, I have a bunch of thoughts on this...

Doesn't surprise me that he's a smart boy and I think it sounds like he doesn't fit with how school "works". I mean, school asks every child to sit and work. Period. Sometimes things like recess get taken away from kids who misbehave or something like that.

Sure we all have to learn that, but I think many kids have a high energy level and NEED to move around - it's the way they are wired.

I am a home schooling mom and my son hasn't been to school, but I think we would have run into the same thing. He's bright and has lots of energy. And guess what, as he got older, we discovered he is quite athletic. He also learned to read at a very young age, and I'm sure would have been bored.

But school isn't dealing with one kid at a time and the whole classroom is distrupted by stuff like that. We also don't all learn in the same style.

Funny story - years ago, another mom and I took our little ones to the playground. Her little daughter suddenly sat in some sand and wanted to play quietly and dig around. My son was running around with loads of energy - couldn't wait to get to the swing set.

Each of us expressed a wish that our own child would be more the other way. She wanted her daughter to get up and run around - I wanted mine to sit and play for a while. They were both just being themselves.

 

[burn97]

I'm in total agreement with You LTR.
Believe it or not, the punishment these guys get is to lose thier recess. They have to stand against the wall. Now, I'm not an educated child development major, but even I know, that's the worst thing to do at this age. They need that time to run and yell and get that energy out.
His first grade teacher last year said that she noticed that her class was better if she took them out for a mid-morning recess.... (our school only has one lunchtime recess) I told her that it made sense. These kids are five years old (mine turned six during the school year) and they just can't sit down all day.
I think they're starting them to early personally. I really wish I had held mine back. He started preschool at three, kindergarden at four, 1st at five, now 2nd at six.( he turns seven in october) The maturity level just isn't there. But, because he's so smart, the school won't hold him back, they say that'd actually hurt him in the long run.
So, long story short, I get to hear praises because he's 'such a quick learner' and then in the same sentence, but we're calling you in today because.. ..

 

[burn97]

I wish I had the patience for homeschooling... I'm definately not teacher quality. I help with homework, but that's about as good as I can do.
( I must've been absent the day the Good Lord was handing out patience. lol )

 

[Zoomer]

I work full-time, so it's the same all year to me. They go to school and then summer camp. They do love school, and I think I would enjoy the time to myself if I were a stay at home mom. Sounds like a win-win situation.

 

[Neenie1]

I miss my little boy when he's at preschool. (2 days a week from 9 - 3) But I know it's good for him. It's also good for me too, lets me get all my stuff done, and lets me have a bit of free time while my daughter is taking a nap.

I don't look forward to next year when he is gone 5 days a week (again from 9 - 3:15) so it's going to be pretty quiet around here next year.

 

[Christdefinesme]

I've been humming that song to myself for 2 weeks, and I mean it and I do not feel guilty. I don't want to "get rid of my kids". I LOVE having a schedule again, and the kids were getting bored with summer, they love school, I love having just a toddler around, I love being with my kids, I miss them when they are away from me, and I love it when they come home from school, and they have all their new experiences to share with me. I am so happy for routine again!! Oh, happy, happy, happy......the early mornings are hard to get used to again.....
But, hubby and I are getting time together again (all summer I have a 13 year old and 10 year old staying up til midnight or 1, or 2, depending on which friend invited them over, or which friend is at our house - and then, get up at 5:45 or 6 a.m. with the 7 year old and 2 year old EVERY MORNING.) Now, the kids are in bed early, we have time to unwind, mommy's getting more sleep, mommy's happy with routine, mommy's a happy mommy in general, everybody's happy. Yep, it's the most wonderful time of the year. Happy, happy, happy.

 

[wanderingone]

I selfishly don't REALLY enjoy back to school time, just because as a working outside the home mom since the kids have been older summer is a reprieve from having to do the before school routine. So here in NY where we are just wrapping up the 2nd week of school I'm still "off" kilter from the quieter summer routine.

Other than that I think many kids need the stimulation that comes from whatever type of schooling they are involved in, and as summer activities wind down and they are bored or looking for things to do school is a welcome change as summer gets boring. One thing I like about the school year is now that I've only got one still in school and she's a big kid now she can jump on the bus and come hang out at work with me after school.
She does her homework and talks with my coworkers or helps out around the office and Then we go home together or to our after work "stuff" (like today is our cat shelter volunteer day).

I think everyone's reaction is a result of their individual situation and it can be slightly exaggerated (like in the staple's commercials, which crack me up) to make a joke , for the most part the parents I know are so involved in school they aren't getting any kind of REAL break when school starts!

I don't personally like the idea that kids are supposed to hate school that is common in media "back to school" presentations. If school was so miserable that my kids hated going back I'd have to look for alternatives for them. But just because it's like that for some kids, or the media uses it as a hook for adverts and sitcom plots doesn't mean that's the truth for everyone, or that it's even the big picture for a lot of people.

 

[Entertaining_Angels]

I really don't think all kids hate school. So far I have two children who really enjoy learning and have enjoyed school. It could be in the way it is presented though. Learning is fun in this house.