At last (back-to-school edition)

As the summer has drawn to a close and the first day of school has approached, there has been the usual bonanza of back-to-school angst associated with the myriad errands and activities: shopping for school supplies; schedule-fixing; worry regarding new schools or new classes; concern over the right clothes/hair/shoes; and so forth. Herself has done her best to provide what is needed, to soothe the ruffled feathers, to console, encourage and instill enthusiasm. Finally today, all the Offspring will be ensconced at school, and Herself will have the luxury of missing them.

Herself has Caregiver fatigue. Although the Offspring are all maturing nicely and on the whole are capable of mostly entertaining and occasionally feeding themselves, it has nevertheless been a long summer that occasionally has felt like endless rounds of meal-making, cleaning-up-after, laundry-ifying, cajoling about chores, refereeing amongst the masses, driving hither and yon, reminding, motivating, scolding. Today, when Herself can finally be alone in the house for the first time in months, she will be able to look back and better see the pleasant moments of the summer.  Then she will be grateful.

The Offspring are a lovely bunch of people:  witty, smart, caring and humorous.  Because of their absence, Herself will be renewed, refreshed, and more appreciative of them when they return at the end of the school day. She will truly miss them. All will be better.