Best and Worst Things About Back to School

As August winds down, the smell of schoolbooks and school cafeteria pizza lunches fill the air.  Yep, it's back-to-school time, a time of year that evokes mixed emotions:  excitement, sadness, anticipation, depression.  So, here we list the 5 best and the 5 worst things about the kids going back to school. 

The 5 Best

• Time to yourself:  With the squeal of the school bus air brake, you breathe a sigh of relief.  Sure, you have lots to do, but for a least a few moments a day, you have time to relax, take a shower, maybe even (gasp!) read a book.  Though you love your kids, there's nothing like a little "me" time to recharge your mom batteries.
• A regular schedule:  Summer is all about winging it.  During the school year, you can get the family on a regular eating, working, and sleeping schedule.  Consequently, you all feel more disciplined and more productive.
• New friends:  Your child is making new friends, and you are too!  Through school activities and your child's friends' parents, your social circle expands.  Your family gets to engage in new activities and new experiences.
• Your child is learning.  It's amazing to see your child learn and grow.  Through homework help, you also might discover new things or re-learn things you forgot.  It's a cool and educational way to bond with your little one.
• Less bickering:  With siblings home together all day long, bickering is inevitable.  Less time together coupled with more time focusing on school, sports, and clubs, and your children aren't as apt to fight.  At least, you hope.

The 5 Worst

• School shopping:  School supplies, new clothes, backpacks, juice boxes, ugh.  You're trying to be less consumeristic, but it's hard once the school year rears its money-hungry head.  And the crowds?  It's enough to make you go Amish.
• Early wakeups:  What sadistic school administrator thought that 7 a.m. was a good time to start school?  Coffee?  Just hook it to our veins, please.
• Less quality time:  During the summer, the family could take a weekend trip, spend time at the park, and chat around a barbeque dinner.  Now, you're all busy, making it hard to eat dinner en masse, let alone spend time on activities like scrapbooking or nature walking.
• Less help around the house:  In June, you can get done all the little jobs that were neglected during the rest of the year.  Once school starts, your helpers (a.k.a. "children") are away most of the day, leaving the bulk of the work for, you guessed it, mom.
• Stress:  Mary has basketball practice, and Bobby needs to be driven to the tutor, and Sarah needs help with her science fair project, and, and, and!!!!  These days, stress is par for the course during the school year, but that fact doesn't make it suck any less.  Remember, take a few minutes to breathe every day.  Your family will thank you, and so will your sanity!

What are your favorite and least favorite things about the kids going back to school?