Tomorrow is the best day of the year for a parent....

[scheming daemons]

...kids back in school!


Woot!

[rurallib]

1. week 3 for us already.

[Renew Deal]

22. Do you get a longer winter break?

Or more days off? When does it end?

[rurallib]

54. I think they are planning in some snow days

We had several last year (Iowa), so they didn't get out til June 10.
I am not sure when they get out. I think they get 2 weeks at Xmas and one in the spring.

[Oceansaway]

2. wk 3 here too....nt

[virgogal]

3. Not around here----about 10 more days.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

4. homeschool all year here...

wouldn't dream of having the kiddos gone for 8 hours a day or more...

sP

[Maat]

11. I homeschool, too!

Fortunately, I've arranged for Beloved Daughter (13-1/2) to continue with her art lessons (one break per week on Wednesdays)!

[ProdigalJunkMail]

39. we get natural summertime breaks for all the enrichment stuff they do

out of the home...but for the normal things we do at home...that just sort of keeps on going! works great and no lag time at the start of the year to catch back up to all the stuff that 'leaked out of their brains' over the summer!

sP

[mzteris]

36. yeah - I never understood that

"I can't wait to get rid of my kids" thing, either. . .

[ProdigalJunkMail]

40. i get it for short stints...

but having the little ones gone everyday, for 8 or more hours per day, then all the activities and the homework...hell, how do people who send their kids to school (public OR private) ever get to spend any meaningful time with them? i remember as a kid getting to see my parents for MAYBE an hour a day....and that was usually over dinner...

sP

[mzteris]

50. we no longer homeschool

:(

And I do miss my kids, who are not only in school but involved in every activity known to man.

My oldest - the one I hs'ed from 2nd - 8th grade, went back to school when we found a highschool full of quirky kids that had a "self-directed learning" philosophy. However, he's leaving next week - as a junior - to go away to a ballet school. It's about to kill me on the one hand, but on the other, I am so very proud of him. Some parents are aghast that I'd let him go, but I know how capable and independent he is.

My youngest has always been in a Spanish immersion school - one thing that can't be replicated "at home" unless you're bilingual. :( It was too good an opportunity to pass up - and that one LOVES "school" - so it's worked out okay for us. I had always thought I'd keep him home for middle school - but they're implementing a new dual-language program there now, so we'll see how that works out.

I will say the happiest times of my life were when my children were at home. We had so much fun together. Museums, field trips, co-ops, activities, going with my (then) husband on his business trips - wherever they were - and exploring whatever community we were in. Learning history at all those "local points of interest". Meeting local artists. Staying up late to watch that special on The History Channel. Going to the grocery - (economics/nutrition/budgeting), cooking - (measures, sequencing, chemistry). Just hanging out together.

:sigh: it gets really really quiet around here when they're gone.

[AspenRose]

41. Here as well.

[rucky]

5. One more looooong week for me.

[seabeyond]

6. we just finished our first week. tell ya.... lookin for the peace and quiet, but for week....

trauma and drama and studd to do...

lookin for routine this week

[Bettie]

7. Last Wednesday was the happiest day of the year here

Tomorrow they have their first full day. Early relase first week, you know.

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. Not here. Different time zone.

or something like that.

[FirstLight]

9. YEAH!

Though I have to wait till the teen goes to work on tuesday till I am *really* alone...can't wait!!! :woohoo:

They are going to bed Uber-early too...I need some PEACE!!! :rofl:

[pipi_k]

10. Not up here, but I gotta laugh...

Last year my grandson started Kindergarten and his mom and dad were traumatized. They both had to take the day off from work. I mean, they were literally crying nearly the entire day.

OK...overprotective issues there....


One year later and I'm talking to my daughter the other night and she says, "Boy I can't wait till school starts".

hahahahahahhaahhaha!!!!


She's on her way to being a "normal" parent, I think...

:7

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. And the most depressing day of the year for a teacher

:cry:

[Taitertots]

16. Let me break out the worlds smallest violin

For people whining about having a job.

How many weeks did you get off this summer?

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. One

I worked all summer.

[Taitertots]

24. Smallest violin orchestra is coming out

Everyone else who had a job did the exact same thing. Most of the people without jobs would gladly work all summer.

[proud2BlibKansan]

27. So?

Am I supposed to feel unspecial or something? LOL

[Taitertots]

38. Having to go to work is not really all that special

Almost everyone does and most of the people who don't would like to. Did you expect a round of applause?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

33. Nice goalpost movement.

[Catshrink]

23. None...

I was prepping for a new class, reorganizing the storage room, meeting with other teachers in other departments to coordinate lessons, etc. None of this was part of my contract, btw, I did it because I care about the children. Imagine that, a teacher doing something and not getting paid. What a novel concept. Not.

[Odin2005]

25. Wow, that comment was uncalled for!

[proud2BlibKansan]

28. Thanks Odin

This crap is becoming all too common here. I am getting used to it.

The only thing I want to know now is just how large is that rock and how long has it been lodged up his ass.

[Odin2005]

30. No problem.

:hi:

[Taitertots]

37. That was a fairly benign way to say that I don't feel sympathy toward them

If what you do is easy, fun, and/or fulfilling then there would be no reason to pay people to do it. People complaining that they have found a way get by doesn't cause me to feel sympathy toward them.

[Rebubula]

42. Wow...

...you REALLY are a complete ray of asshole-shine, aren't you??

I know that you get off being a curmudgeon, but is this really necessary to be an asshole to everyone?

I used to think that you were just a cynic...now I just think that you are angry.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

32. WTF?

No, really, WTF?

[Brickbat]

49. Jayzus H.

"How many weeks did you get off this summer?" You have no idea the amount of work that goes into being a teacher.

[Dappleganger]

44. Not my teaching friends...

they are excited, too. I hear their complaints the week after Halloween (sugar rush), the week before Christmas and the last month of school.

[surrealAmerican]

13. Our schools start tomorrow too.

I always find it stressful to keep the child on schedule though.

[City Lights]

14. You're a little late.

Mine started in mid-August.

[Catshrink]

15. We start our 4th week tomorrow.

And the teachers are already exhausted due to huge class loads caused by budget slashing.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. Don't be a whiner

Be glad you have a job.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9041200&mesg_id=9041503

[Catshrink]

20. Oh, I am...

Just waiting for the school to implode.

[SidDithers]

19. 8 more days for us...

Tuesday after Labour Day.

Sid

[Renew Deal]

21. 8 more days in NY

:shrug:

[MrSlayer]

26. Next monday for us. But I don't see it as a great thing.

I like having my kids around. I like spending time with my son writing and playing music. I like having his band play all day in my basement. I'm not really thrilled about our time being cut down to weekends due to school.

[blogslut]

29. ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwcYbo7pjto&p=B3205085A29D7EDF&playnext=1&index=2

Mine's all growed up now, but I sure as hell loved that commercial when it came out.

[Iggo]

35. Ha! You beat me by 2-and-a-half hours!

It's the first thing that popped into my head.

[SheilaT]

31. I find it really sas that any parent

would want their kid away from them 8 hours a day or however long the school day is.

I loved being with my kids. I feel sorry for parents who don't.

[pipi_k]

45. Well I do know that some parents

look forward to their kids going back to school so they can get back to work.


My daughter and her husband both work. She has had to take time off to stay home with her son because they can't afford a babysitter. They need the second income, which is why she works in the first place.


My son, as well. When his MIL was in the area, she would watch the girls after school or when they stayed home sick. She moved to another state earlier this year and that meant my son had to get out early, and take time off from his job this summer to care for them.


People can love being with their kids without having to prove it by being with them 24/7.

:shrug:

[Dappleganger]

46. It's not like that.

Summers are quite chaotic for us. I love having the schedules forced onto us by the school along with the planned breaks. It gives me time to regroup, plan ahead and be ready for when they get home. It's very hard to do that when they are all here. Also, they love and miss their friends and we actually have a few kids who (gulp!) enjoy learning and being back in their routine. That's not sad at all.

I am also very happy for our two older teens who are really branching out on their own right now. It's not easy to see them try out those wings but it gives me great comfort to see them fly around on their own.

[pipi_k]

47. Speaking of friends...

My little grandson, before he started school, had almost no friends at all besides his two cousins and a couple of other very very young child relatives.

His social skills sucked. Big time.

Since he's started school his personality has bloomed and he's a delightful little boy.

Also, my two granddaughters, even though they aren't overprotected like my grandson is, had their own issues. The older one was very shy. In school she got into gymnastics and has gained all sorts of self-confidence.


:)

[Dappleganger]

51. That's great to hear!

Sounds as if they are in great environments to help them grow. :hi:

[Codeine]

53. Kids are supposed to be away from their parents some.

Independence is a good thing.

[Iggo]

34. It's the most...wonderful time...of the year!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPIIMbG9R4w

[Dappleganger]

43. On week 2 of school here...

One in tech school pursuing her dream of cosmetologist...
One a senior...
Two in middle school.

All of them are living at home, plus oldest daughter's best friend is living here and going to school as well. 7 mouths to feed, oh my! I need some inspiration for nutritious but inexpensive meals which are easy to make.

[uncommon]

48. Ha, not here. Not until the 9th.

[Kalyke]

52. We've been back for two weeks, now.

In what part of the country do kids still wait until Labor Day to go back to school?