Well, I can’t believe summer vacation is over and my baby (8th grader!) returns to school today. Where did the summer go? I am one of those parents that never likes it when school starts and summer ends (not too sure there are many of us around). Especially living in Florida, where school starts in mid-August. I grew up in NJ, and I always started school after Labor Day. This always made sense to me, as it was September already and the weather had started to cool off a bit. But living in Miami where it is still brutally hot in August, the last thing you want to think about is sending your child back to school, when they should be out swimming. By the way, I’ve never understood why different parts of the country start their school years at different times. And don’t even get me started on year-round schools. I know many of you will disagree with me, but I’ve always thought that kids need a long summer break, to enjoy family visits with cousins and grandparents, summer camps, vacations, day trips to museums, etc. And for those kids that do enjoy school, after a few months, they’re ready to go back and start the routine all over again.
While I welcome some alone time, I miss my daughter terribly at the start of every school year. And it doesn’t help that we just got back from our family vacation last night (more posts on that trip in the coming weeks). I love the spontaneity of summer and having free time to enjoy with my daughter, whether it be to sleep in late, or spend the day at the beach, without all the schedules. I have never liked schedules. Now mind you, my daughter does not feel this way. While she thoroughly enjoys her summers, she has always loved school too (thankfully). So she’s ready to go back. The back to school blues only affect mom in my family! I reminisce on the great memories we made as a family over the summer…the laughs, the trips to the ice cream shop, the family visits and the late night movie marathons! And every year I realize…one more summer down, not many more to go.
So, I would like to remind my fellow parents out there, do not long for school to start because you’re tired and need alone time. One day, in the blink of an eye, it will all be gone and your school aged kids will have become adults.
I hope you’ve all enjoyed the summer with your kids. How does your family handle back to school time? I’d love to hear!
It’s bittersweet. On one hand, I love having some quietness back but at the same time, I wonder how they’ll do at school.
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That’s how I feel too!
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What you’re saying is so true. My youngest just graduated college so this is the first year I don’t have any kids going back to school. It’s weird and it definitely flew by in the blink of an eye.
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I am dreading back to school. My kids have been so active and involved in so many things this summer I feel like I have had no time with them at home. I wish summer was a little longer. But on the other hand I am kind of glad school is starting because now they have to be home. 🙂
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Part of me is looking forward to my kids going back and part of me isn’t. We still have a few more weeks before they go back, so I am going to make the most of it.
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I don’t know where summer went, but I want it back. I am so not ready for it to end. I used to miss my Daughter too when it was time for her to go back to school… now, she is grown and on her own. We are pretty much best friends.
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Oh you took the words right out of my mouth! Time flies and we need to enjoy it. They grow up so fast!
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My son will be starting preschool soon. I look forward to a couple of hours to be able to get a few things done, but I also will miss having him around!
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Everyone seems to be back to school this week. My son is just in preschool.
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My daughter is starting kindergarten and I’m half a nervous wreck and half excited.
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They seem to move the date up every year! When my daughters (and I) were in school, you got out the middle of June and went back 2nd week of September
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It’s insane how fast summer went by, I can’t believe it’s already time for back to school.
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Finally someone who is not excited that their child is off to school – I am not alone!!! We just moved from Florida and I hated that schools started so early there. It is nice to finally have them starting later, we have two more weeks here in Idaho for my oldest but my youngest is home schooled so he is stuck with me.
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Your daughter looks adorable in blue! Back-to-school time already, it goes to fast, I homeschool but it still comes too fast.
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We are still on summer holidays here but keep seeing pictures of people going back to school it seems to have flown by. x
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we start school in 2 days and I don’t want to admit i have a freshman this year. I want to turn back time.
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That is exactly how I feel. Thank you for sharing.
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I’m sure many are not looking forward to the homework too!
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The summer flew by way too fast. My kids are not looking forward to it.
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I am like you. I am sad that summer is coming to an end. I love spending time with my girls. It went by way to fast.
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My kids are all grown but I missed them when they started back to school especially my daughter as she was the baby. Enjoy it all because it flies fast.
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I hate it when mine go back. I love the noise and chaos they bring into the house on summer vacation. Otherwise, it is just too quiet around here.
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Carolina looks so pretty in her school outfit! Back to school is an exciting time 🙂
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I love back to school time and getting back to a regular schedule of going to bed, getting up and eating dinner for my daughter.
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Good for me, I don’t have school anymore but sometimes, I miss those days, haha!
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Even though my kids are grown now, this time of year always makes me sad because i love summer and hate when it ends.
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Me too!😞
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Ah, I’ve got the blues too. My kiddos start back on the 2nd! Carolina looks ready and is beautiful! Hope she had a wonderful first day back!
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Thank you! She did have a great day!
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Great post, and your daughter is beautiful! No kids here yet, so we handle back to school by leaving the house a few minutes early for work! We don’t want to be in a rush around the neighborhood kids trying to get to school safely!
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This is the first year I have a child in school so I cannot share with you how we do back to school. I do know however that I miss my daughter terribly and today is only day 2!
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My sons are adults now. Although there are times I miss the whole school routine and all of the fun we had with all of their activities, I also love our life now. Your daughter is beautiful and I hope she has a wonderful and successful school year.
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It is sad when they go back, I agree!
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I’ve got two who are grown. That time really did fly by pretty fast!
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My daughter starts kindergarten this year and I really hope she likes it. I think that kids need a long summer break too!
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She looks like she is ready for school. I hope my kids get the memo soon. They go back on Monday
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I have mixed feelings regarding back to school, I am eager to back to a routine, but I’m not ready to drop them off:(
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I’m going to have the back to school blues in a couple of weeks when I go back to work as a teacher. I really enjoy the time I have with my children during the summer.
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It is bitter sweet as we do enjoy the great time we get to have with the kids when they are out of school! But, to get back into the routine is sometimes nice
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I blinked and it’s gone. Definitely treasure the minutes while you have them. I’m so glad I did!
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I usually can’t wait for my kids to go back because I get my house back, peace and quiet. Your daughter looks sooo cool and ready for school. Mine started last week.
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I’m both excited and scared of first day of school! I have no idea how I will react lol I might cry!
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Well I am a teacher so I always look forward to school reopening. It’s exciting! We don’t go back until September though. 🙂
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This summer flew by for us so it’s kinda bitter sweet, my 1st grader is glad he’s in school agin though.
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