A new year, a new state of mind?

Summer has come and gone, and with it any thoughts of vacation with my kids. Miguel's first day of second grade was today. I considered putting a leash on him to keep him in the car long enough to drive up to the front entrance for drop off. Echoes of "I'll get out here mom, really it's ok I can walk" began from the pre-school building where both he and his sister were shuffled into my car from my mom's, whom they drove in to school with, as I had to drive out to Weldon Spring at 6:45am for work only to turn around and drive back into Town and Country to drop Miguel off and take Anna to her open house. Yes, I could have let my mom take Miguel in, but there's something special about that first day of school, and my mom instinct wasn't going to let me miss out on it. And, although I intelligently managed to leave all of Anna's supplies that were supposed to be brought to open house at home this morning, in my rush to get PPA materials together and Miguels things in order and get out the door in time, we still had to stop by to check in with her teachers. Yes, I can honestly say the chaos of the school year has begun. I'm simply praying that I can establish some order to the chaos this year. I still managed to swing home on the way back to the office to stuff a few toys, books, and art supplies into a backpack, which nearly toppled her over when I put it on Anna's shoulders, to keep her entertained today.

It's a bit unnerving to realize that your day has to start at 4:30 am if you have any interest in accomplishing everything that needs to be done during the course of the day, let alone what you would like to fit in to the already crammed schedule. I'm a morning person, thank heavens, but when the day doesn't end until nearly 12 am every day waking up a mere 4 and a half hours later can seem tedious five days a week. I sadly acknowledged that TV will be sacrificed this year. A fact I'm not ready to fully grasp yet, but is being forced upon me this week. I wish I could say I was one of those people who never watch TV, I'm sure it's healthier, and I honestly don't watch as much as the next guy, but I'm a huge movie buff. And unfortunately I've gotten hooked on a few weekly programs as well. I am afraid I will not sacrifice PBS's Masterpiece Theater, it will have to be satisfied with becoming the back ground noise I have a bad habit of relying on to keep me company once the kids are out for the night.

I'd made a concentrated effort to limit my activities last year in an attempt to focus on the kids more, but volunteer activities, work with the PPA, my full time job, my goal to finally train my horse, and the need for a dance program for the Pre-Middle school levels at Prin has definitely made for a busier schedule this year. With each new activity I'm finding ways to include the kids and introduce them to the many possibilities available for them. Chores are a thrill already. Don't ask me why they beg to follow me around our riding arena flinging piles of horse manure out into the pasture, or why hours spent weeding the garden is equal to an afternoon at the playground. But when I get the pleasure of their company at volunteer events and repeatedly hear how well behaved and helpful they are I smile and figure I must be doing something right. They're familiar with the hectic schedule now and keep me smiling with the never ending supply of energy that seeps from their pores. 

I'm sorry to see summer gone now, knowing I missed spending more time with them while they were free of school, but I believe we'll all be more appreciative of the time we do spend together now since it's less frequent. The busier I am the more aware I become of the need to "stop and smell the roses," as the saying goes. Or in this case, stop to enjoy a good book while cuddled up with two precious kids.