Excited about school starting.

[debra_benge]

Yes, I'm absolutely overjoyed about school starting.  I danced when the kids got on the bus for the first time this school year yesterday.  Then I came inside, turned off the TV, and soaked in the quiet.  I did some thinking, too.

I'm not excited school started because I'm away from my kids.  (Ok, not completely true, but it's not the main reason.

I'm excited because this is a whole new year of new experiences for them.  Beyond the old "Readin', Writin', and 'Rithmatic".  They'll make new friends and lose old ones.  They may learn more tolerance for those that are different.  (My gremlins attend an Integrated School, where the kids with special needs are put into the non-special needs classes as often as possible so everyone around can learn coping skills, friendship skills and tolerance.)  They'll learn all new coping skills and new life skills that will help carry them through life.  They'll learn new games to make life fun.

Now, as to the old "Readin', Writin', and 'Rithmatic" they'll gain new reading skills, opening up all new avenues of reading for them.  Reading is BIG in this house.  I have books for them as it stands right now, but there are stories I want to share with them that they aren't quite ready for.  (And now that they can read on their own, they refuse to let me read to them, claiming that's only for little kids and they're not little kids anymore, but big kids now.)  There are whole worlds to explore cradled in the bindings of books, and I can't wait for these guys to dive in.  And that's only in the fiction books!!  There's also the world to explore in their science, history, and social studies books!!  Sometimes fact can be way cooler than fiction.

I'm even looking forward to the bad days because even on bad days, we can learn.  I love watching my children learn and grow.

(And then there's the benefit to me of being able to grocery shop alone, to nap when I need to, to clean without the "help" I occasionally get when they decide they don't really honestly want to help.  You know, where they end up making a bigger mess than the original mess they were supposed to clean up.)  And the oh-so vital recharge time for me, so I can be a better Mom, and sit back and truly enjoy my kids.  Summers are great, but by the end of it, we've all had a bit too much of each other.  No matter what outings and fun I plan, the two of them are at each other's throats and I'm ready to run and hide for a couple of days.