I am not one of those people who look forward to summer and thinks,

“Oh crap start signing the kids up.”

For me the less I have to do, the less I have to get in the car, the less paperwork, book bags and soccer uniforms I have to keep up with the better.

Here’s what I won’t miss:

Homework for a six year old: Perhaps nothing oh nothing is more frustrating than homework.  Why oh why do we have homework?  Please stop sending homework to me.  I am tired of it.  You are intruding on a very special time and it’s called my time.  You are requiring computers and school supplies and knowledge that I no longer have.  STOP.

For the sixteen year old: ditto

Schedule: I am NOT an over-scheduler, the kids play one sport per season so why does it feel like I’m running around with my to-do list snapping at my heels?  There are schedules to be kept, snacks to buy, shin guards to replace, uniforms to wash.  Why does it have to be so difficult and to top it off now I have to pay to get into Beau’s game?  Seriously, if the whole family goes I have just spent half a day’s paycheck, which either tells you that I make chicken scratch or supporting your child's endeavors is going to cost you an arm and a leg. 

Or both.

Paperwork:  Oh the paperwork of school.  Besides homework, there are release forms and permission slips and field trip reminders and yearbook purchases and sports sign-up sheets and returning to school forms and donation sheets.  And between all that I’m supposed to find time to read the school newsletter.  What’s happening at my children’s school?  I don’t know, let me find the newsletter that’s crumpled up between my car seat and I might be able to tell you.

If I am heartily sick of school, I can guarantee you that my children are too.  No more pencils, no more books, and no more teachers’ dirty looks.  It is summer time, oh sweet relief.

There’s nothing to do all day, and nowhere to be and oh no, nothing to do?

I better schedule something…

Like the pool or a bike ride or a picnic in the park.

Now that’s my kind of to do list.