Initial thoughts on back to school – musings from parents in the first few weeks

My children have now been back to school for 2 weeks and already the tiredness is kicking in. That’s mainly because our routine went out of the window for the summer holidays and they had many late nights.

During the first few days of the children going back to school, my social media timelines were filled with mixed emotions; some parents were sad that the children were heading off to school or even back to school while others were more than ready to wave them off and regain some normality and quiet again.

I had a mix of both of these. The kids were ready to go back and I was in dire need of some quiet to work in…working from home while they are both home is near on impossible and my work was suffering.

We’d a fun filled summer but I’d exhausted my summer holiday fund and the kids were beginning to want even more days out.

This got me thinking about what my thoughts are currently about back to school and what they will be in a few weeks time. I thought it would be very interesting to ask fellow parents what their initial thoughts were and then ask them again in a few weeks time.

I posed a few questions which I’ll ask again nearer half term to compare.

My thoughts:

Although I knew I would miss the children when they were gone for those 6 hours a day (5 days a week for Emmy and 3 days for Harry), I knew I could knuckle down and work on my very long to-do-list.

I have been very organised for these past 2 weeks. Clothes have been laid out the night before, books have been read, homework done the day it arrives into the house and Harry’s lunch made the evening before.

My alarm has been set and I have jumped out of bed and straight into the shower every school morning, no snoozing or sitting on the sofa watching TV with the kids. The kids have been tired when they get home.

I now pass you over to other parents for their initial thoughts on back to school:

• Leyla who blogs over at This Day I Love
  Are your children back to school or first timers? Both
  Your initial thoughts on back to school? She was ready to get back to school and wanted to see her friends.
  Your child/children’s thoughts on back to school? They were both excited to see their friends.
  Are you organised in advance? Sorted in the morning
  Waking in the mornings – You : Snooze many times
  Waking in the mornings – Kids: Wake before my alarm
  Walk or Drive to school? Walk
  How is your child/ren after school?

• Emma who blogs over at Life According to Mrs Shilts
  Are your children back to school or first timers? First time at pre-school 
  Your initial thoughts on back to school? I’m excited for him to start pre-school as I think he’s ready but it’s going to be a whole new routine for us all to get used to. 
  Your child/children’s thoughts on back to school? He’s excited (doesn’t really know what he’s getting into!) 
  Are you organised in advance? All ready the night before
  Waking in the mornings – You : Alarm set and snoozed once
  Waking in the mornings – Kids: Wakes before my alarm
  Walk or Drive to school? Walk
  How is your child/ren after school? Tired

• Amy who blogs over at Mr and Mrs T plus Three
  Are your children back to school or first timers? This year saw Rose’s first day at school, Holly’s first day at college and Lewis is now in his second year at college so it’s all go!
  Your initial thoughts on back to school? I was actually quite looking forward to claiming the house back and really knuckling down to get some work done. I’ve been falling so behind with deadlines during summer it was practically impossible with all three of them about! I do miss them, especially my little shadow but I was ready for it!
  Your child/children’s thoughts on back to school? The older two were excited to be back. Rose-not so much, she’s cried every morning at drop off but it always full of smiles at pick up time. 
  Are you organised in advance? All ready the night before
  Waking in the mornings – You : Alarm set and up straight away
  Waking in the mornings – Kids: I wake them
  Walk or Drive to school? Drive
  How is your child/ren after school? Happy

• Kara who blogs over at Chelsea Mamma
  Are your children back to school or first timers? Back to school
  Your initial thoughts on back to school? The school holiday’s didn’t feel like long enough and we felt unprepared this year
  Your child/children’s thoughts on back to school?  Isaac and Eliza were both looking forward to seeing their friends
  Are you organised in advance? Sorted in the morning
  Waking in the mornings – You : Alarm set and up straight away
  Waking in the mornings – Kids: I wake them
  Walk or Drive to school? Walk
  How is your child/ren after school? Tired

• Stacey who blogs over at Nobody said it was easy
  Are your children back to school or first timers? First timer
  Your initial thoughts on back to school? Excited for him but also nervous as he takes a while to get used to a new setting, though he has visited briefly a couple of times
  Your child/children’s thoughts on back to school? Excited and looking forward to lots of playing and making new friends
  Are you organised in advance? All ready the night before
  Waking in the mornings – You : Alarm set and snoozed once
  Waking in the mornings – Kids: Awake before my alarm
  Walk or Drive to school? Mixture of both
  How is your child/ren after school? Tired

• Liz who blogs over at Hart of the Munchkin Patch
  Are your children back to school or first timers? Both, 1 just started in year 2 and the other started in reception
  Your initial thoughts on back to school? Nervous at the big change but excited for what the year holds. A shaky start for Munch as she hasn’t settled brilliantly with her new teachers, but hopefully that’ll improve
  Your child/children’s thoughts on back to school? Munch is a little sad as she was spoilt with such an incredible teacher last year. This year hasn’t been so smooth starting. Beastie on the other hand is loving every second and has to be spoken to every evening about why returning to school at 7pm and scaling the gates just isn’t the done thing!
  Are you organised in advance? All ready the night before
  Waking in the mornings – You : Alarm set and u straight away
  Waking in the mornings – Kids: I wake them
  Walk or Drive to school? Walk
  How is your child/ren after school? Tired

I’ll be back near the end of this first half term to ask the same parents similar questions to see how they, and their children are getting on. I can guarantee I’ll have changed to snoozing my alarm and rushing in the mornings – I wonder if anyone else will be less organised as time goes on?

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