As summer rolls in, my enthusiasm is off the charts! I might dislike school even more than my kids do, and I can hardly wait for that final week—the last day and hour of the school year can’t come soon enough.
Honestly, there’s hardly anything I enjoy about school, except that someone else is teaching my child instead of me. Whether it’s homeschooling or public school, the moment Easter break hits, I’m ready to call it quits. Sadly, public school comes with pesky regulations about attendance and those oh-so-important “school days.” Yawn.
School-Related Annoyances
Let’s talk about the long list of school-related annoyances. The seemingly endless parties—seriously, how many celebrations can a fifth-grade class have in one year?—field trips, and the relentless “Mom, can you drive? Mom, please drive!” is enough to make me go a little nuts. I hope this persistence serves my kid well in the future, because right now, it’s just driving me up the wall.
And then there’s homework, the thorn in my side. Those ridiculous projects teachers assign (not that they expect us to help, right?) are the stuff of nightmares. State reports? No thanks! Reading after a long day? You must be joking! Next, you’ll expect them to brush their teeth too.
Fundraising Frustrations
Let’s not forget fundraising. It’s really the parents who end up raising the money, and we end up buying all the stuff anyway. Why not just write a big check in August and skip the magazines, gift wrap, and candy that we “support” the class with? And the science fair? Don’t even get me started on the chaos of messy projects, glue, and those pesky viruses that creep into our computers. Can’t my child just write a simple report about fungus without the need for a whole science project?
The Morning Rush
Missing the bus and the frantic race to get your child to school before the tardy bell rings is another joy. Heaven forbid your kid gets labeled TRUANT for being late! Seriously, shouldn’t the authorities focus on real criminals instead of a 10-year-old who missed the bus? At least they showed up eventually—there should be an award for that.
Transitioning to Junior and Senior High
Things don’t get any easier as kids transition to junior and senior high. You hope you can blend into the background, but nope! It’s a battle just to get a hormonal teenager to do their homework while juggling sports practices, away games, weekend events, and clubs—all while you’re the one driving them everywhere. The laundry piles up, the garbage rots, and who knows what’s lurking in the fridge? You might even find yourself turning your underwear inside out because you haven’t had time to do laundry in weeks.
The Joy of Summer Break
But then comes the glorious light at the end of the tunnel: summer break! No more homework, projects, tests, or field trips. Endless days of free time stretch before us. I can shop at Target at any hour because there’s no bus schedule to adhere to! The kids go off to camp, visit Grandma and Grandpa, or hang out with friends, and they can play outside all day. The joy of summer means sleeping until 7:30 without worrying about missing the bus, taking actual showers (not those military-style ones), and wearing real clothes instead of just yoga pants and a hat. And let’s not forget the pure bliss of sipping coffee from a real cup instead of a travel mug—it’s heaven!
Come mid-August, I’ll be tired, cranky, and wishing for June to roll around again. I won’t go down without a fight; you might just catch me throwing a tantrum outside the school. Don’t judge—trust me, you’d want to throw a fit too!
Cheers!
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Summary
As summer approaches, the author shares a humorous take on the frustrations of the school year, from homework to endless fundraising. The freedom of summer break brings joy, allowing families to enjoy relaxation and activities without the stress of school obligations.