The school had their open house yesterday, so we lugged the two younger daughter’s loot (aka supply list) over, because there’s no way they could have carried it on the bus.  DD#3 was as happy as could be and just wanted to sit in her classroom for the evening and pretend that school had already started.  The school is a conglomeration of buildings (not portables), and she gets to move up to the second building.

DD#2 said she wasn’t ready for school to start, but of all of them, I think she’s the one who is most ready to use her mind in a constructive way again.  They’ve changed the way they’re teaching the middle school, and now there will be four teachers (two are the ones she had last year for fifth grade) so that each teacher can focus on their specialties – as is the law in Texas for the public school system, one has to teach to the TAKS test.  I think this is good, though one of her teachers is questionable in my book.  But, we’ll see how it goes!  Sixth grade is one of the big milestones for the TAKS test, so she must do well (not that I have doubts, she did excellent last year on the tests).

DD#1 just wanted to hug everyone – students, previous teachers, new teachers.  Teacher’s pet?!  She’s ready for her mind to be challenged, too, and is a quality student as well.  She’ll complain a bit, but she’s pretty darned smart (commendable on 3 of 4 of her eighth grade TAKS tests and one question away from commendable on the fourth one), so we don’t worry too much about her academics.  But, she is moving up to the high school, so her social life will probably get more involved as she participates in some of those upper grade activities. 

DD#1 was measured for her cheer squad outfit, too – can I just say ADORABLE?  Imagine 20+ little first, second & third-graders, getting out on the football field during halftime and doing a routine!  Although I’m not athletic now, I was a cheerleader in Jr. High … and I (secretly) can’t wait to see these little ones having fun and cheering on our school at the football games!

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.