It’s not that I don’t enjoy having the kids home, by any means.  If their dad had his way, he’d homeschool all of them and they’d never be subjected to the rigors and whims of public school education again!  But, gee, for a mom who works from home – having the kids underfoot is a daily challenge.  Mind you, my office shed is away from the house, so the hubs takes care of them most of the time.  But, that doesn’t mean I’m relaxed about the whole affair.  There are things they need to do (chores, music practice, etc.) and then there are things they want to do (library, swimming, etc.) and sometimes things just don’t get done as I expect them to.  Not to mention that the minute the dad-person steps out of the house, one or more of them runs to the phone to call me on the intercom, wanting to do something Dad just told them they couldn’t do.

I took a very selfish personal day yesterday, a once-a-year get-together with a friend who lives two hours away.  We had a lovely lunch and then went to see the latest Harry Potter movie (my review:  Not nearly as on-the-edge-of-your-seat exciting as the others have been).  And we just yakked and yammered and enjoyed ourselves without kids.  Was refreshing and nice to have an adult conversation with another girl.  And lunch was yummy, too!

Next week, I’ll be in full swing to do a little school shopping (don’t need much yet, since this Texas heat means they’ll wear shorts until Thanksgiving) and get their supplies.  Am waiting to find out when the high school has their open house, because they don’t give us supply lists online, we have to wait until the kids meet their teachers.  Argh!

But, this mom likes a schedule.  I like to know what I’m doing during the week, where the kids need to be and what I need to do to get them there.  I like knowing the kids are in learning-mode, not vegging mode.  Active and enthused, that’s what schooling is all about!

One more free week for them, and then it’s back to the chopping block …. err, the school.