Heading Back to School

Heading back to school is both exciting and challenging with four children ages ranging from seven to seventeen years old there is always plenty for me and my spouse to do. Our job really starts before the first day of school with school shopping and open house, those two tasks help get us in the mood.

My spouse and I will sit the children down a week before school and we discuss what we expect from them during the school year. Bed time schedules, bathroom schedule, breakfast menu and schedule are all discussed in detail. We find this really keeps them on track and while they may sometime seem to lose their focus my spouse and I are quick to remind them of our back to school discussion. I must be honest this is not a one sided discussion my spouse and I also let the children know that we are there for them and will be supportive. We feel that parental involvement is the key to our children's success.

The first day of school is very busy and sometimes chaotic in our house. Just image four children getting ready for school and two parents getting ready for work with only two bathrooms? Our morning starts at 4:00 am. My spouse and I get up, start the coffee and make sure we have done everything we need to do before awaking the children at 5:00 am. The children prepare themselves with little supervision and afterward they eat their hot breakfast. They have to go to the bus stop at different times. My spouse or either I will wait with the seven and nine year old at the bus stop. The fifteen and seventeen year old leaves a little earlier to head to the bus stop.

I guess it is safe to say the real work starts after school. My spouse and I usually take turn cooking and checking the children homework assignments. I would really prefer cooking than checking the homework. I have been out of school for what seems like a million years and a lot of the subjects especially the Math; I did not keep abreast on. That is really a challenge for me; I have spoken to my spouse regarding a tutor. My spouse laughs it off and keeps on moving. Sometimes I must admit I get help from the older children when it comes to checking the smaller children's homework.

We do look forward to the time when all of the children will leave the nest, but we have a long way to go so we will grin and enjoy every moment of it.