School Daze, the Return

Tomorrow is the first day of the 2011-12 school year for my kids. All the supplies have been bought (grudgingly, and only what I CHOSE to send them to school with). They've been doled out and packed away in back packs. Outfits are laid out, paperwork is signed, everyone's had a bath, and it's 7 minutes until bedtime here in the Murray Household.

I know similar situations will take place all over the country in the next few weeks, and my household is no special exception. Except.
Except that my children are growing up too fast. They are big enough to get themselves up and ready for school. Big enough to carry a house-key and let themselves in if no one is home in the afternoon. Big enough to make their own after-school snack.

Weston is in 8th grade.
( Just typing that sentence made new gray hairs pop out on my head!)
He's nearly as tall as I am. He's decided not to participate in sports. He DECIDED. His Choice. Not mine. He has his reasons, and I understand them. But it was a shock to realize that he was big enough to make the choice, to talk about it rationally like an adult, to defend his position.

Morgan is in 7th grade.
(POP POP POP!!! More gray hairs.)
She is taking a Drama/Theater class this year. Perfect choice for her, my little drama queen. She asked me how to apply the make-up she's had since Christmas. She's showing an interest in becoming a young lady, instead of a tom-boy.

Chas is in 5th grade.
(Silence. Whew! I'm going gray fast enough already!)
It's his last year in elementary school.
(POP! ... I knew it.)
So, he has all the basic classes, plus archery. Yes, Archery. My little boy with a bow and arrows. Awesome!

As for me, I get one week of quiet time, one week of having the house to myself, until I also go back to school. One whole week. It's not enough! I haven't even considered what I might get done with that one week. I don't want to overload myself with things to do, especially knowing that after this week, quiet time will be a lot more limited, and filled up with school work. I'm taking Chemistry this semester, which is completely uncharted territory for me. Way scary! I also have Clinical Pathology Part Deux, which means more blood, urine and feces samples, along with other kinds of mysterious goo, I'm sure. Oh, the joy!

Here's hoping for another successful school year!