School Days

The normalcy of school brings so much peace to our family. That sounds almost silly, but it is plain truth. In a really challenging time for our kids, the consistency of a schedule and keeping their brains busy has been a lifesaver. The summer was difficult, as we missed out on a lot of time with Matt, but I wonder if it was even more painful because our brains had too much time to wander and worry.

Trying to kick this cold to the curb, we have been in isolation. It has been a time of growth and anticipation of the big move. Some of us are taking it in stride. 

This is how a "normal" school day breaks down for us:

4:00-5:00a- Anne wakes up with Charles. Anne has high hopes and dreams of hot coffee, a shower, and a couple minutes of quiet before...

5:15a- Every other human in the house wakes up. They are singing/yelling/laughing/attending morning meeting/telling me about aches and pains they now feel.

5:20a- Anne has warmed up her coffee twice and it now tastes like burnt toast. She begins dreaming of bedtime.

5:30a-7:00a- Kids eat breakfast, make 50 paper airplanes, put on three separate productions of the Nutcracker ballet, and pretend to brush their teeth and get dressed.

7:15a- Anne announces it is time for the rosary and school to start. 3/7 children respond by crying that they never ate breakfast.

7:45a- Anne announces, again, that it is time to begin the day. The 4/7 who had already eaten before are now hungry again. Anne announces that the day is beginning anyway and all second breakfasts can be eaten after prayer time.

8:30-11:30- We attempt to do schoolwork. It is mostly loud and unruly...and we learn a lot. There are lots of laughs and some tears.

11:30- Anne lays Charlie down for a nap while the cafeteria starts humming with the sounds of dropped plates and children arguing over the smell of peanut butter.

12noon- LUNCH and an impromptu wrestling match/football game/whatever else the kids need to do to tell me they need to be sent outside for some energy release.

1-3p- Finish school day and breathe.

It's really a beautiful season in my life. I love having the kids home and I know it won't be like this forever. Someday I will be standing in the shower alone, without having to dispense punishments with shampoo in my eyes. I will drink hot coffee. I will have free time and days without needing to nag a single soul. 

And I will look back at this time and miss it fiercely.