I remember putting my oldest on the school bus for the first time. I thought my heart would explode. I was conflicted emotionally, excited for his new adventure, but completely overwhelmed with the idea of sending him away for an entire day.
What would I do with myself?
In the two years when I had all my children in school, I got better at letting them go on that first day back in school. In fact, I got downright good at sending them away!
Of course we miss our kiddos when they head back to school. That quiet house takes some getting used to, after all. But once we get past that first little lump that pushes into our throats, we just may find that sending kids back to class is exciting, and here’s what I really want you to know:
It’s okay to celebrate.
You’re just a mom.
Summertime, though packed with fun and laziness, is hard on us. The constant juggling of small people and all their daily needs is exhausting. Working moms spend the summer battling guilt for not being with their kids, and finding fun activities for them to do while mom works.
Stay at home moms face an equally difficult task of keeping the children busy so that they aren’t staring at her with wide, pitiful, puppy dog eyes all day long for three months.
Either way, the end of summer is often met with equal parts sadness and relief. Instead of wallowing in that sadness, mom, why not reward yourself for surviving the summer?
Here are a few ways for mom to celebrate back to school.
1.) Go on a date with your significant other
The first year we put all three of our big kids on a school bus, my husband and I decided to celebrate big. He took the day off work, we grabbed our passes to Busch Gardens, and we went to the amusement park and rode every single roller coaster.
There were no lines to wait in, no kids whining about being hot, no emergency bathroom breaks to make. It was just me and my man, hooting and hollering like teenagers as we soared through the air.
2.) Grab a friend and head out for a long coffee break
Of course your life is busy, and just because the kids are back in school doesn’t mean you have nothing to do with your days, but there’s something lovely about rejoicing in a kid free, guilt free morning with a friend.
Uninterrupted time to gab? Sign me up!
Agree to take a long, leisurely morning together strolling slowly through the mall, or IKEA, or the outlet stores. Then stop and take a long lunch, savoring every bite knowing that you don’t need to cut up anyone’s food.
Yay you!
3.) Watch a movie
When was the last time you went to the movies in the middle of the day and saw a real life grown up movie? No animation. No talking animals. A real life movie.
Or maybe you’d like to swing by Red Box and grab the latest movie you’ve been wanting to watch, then curl up on the couch and eat whatever you want while indulging yourself for a morning. Maybe you want to binge watch the Gilmore Girls on Netflix.
Whatever you want is what goes, because the day is yours! Obviously, you won’t do this every day. But the first day back at school?
I give you freedom to indulge.
4.) Read a book
Is there anything more blissful than a quiet house and a good book? No?
I didn’t think so.
5.) Bake something
Want to welcome your kiddos home with yummy treats? The kitchen is all yours today! No one is standing at your feet, begging for food, or filling the sink with barely used dishes. The space is yours to do what you want.
So make something for those little loves of yours to celebrate an awesome first day back.
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