Back to School

It's that joyous time of year!  The summer heat slowly starts to decline, the days get a little shorter, the nights get a little longer, there's anticipation of fall colors and pumpkin spice lattes, and most importantly, the kids go back to school!!!!  They reluctantly return to school for 180 days of instruction, seemingly endless hours of homework, early bedtimes and the house fatefully regains a few hours of silence. Back to School is the best time of year.  Don't get me wrong, I love having the kids home for the summer.  Love the days at the beach, evenings at the movies, later bedtimes, and family vacations, but the return of school is also the return of quiet, the end of bickering, and the sibling quarrels. Okay, maybe not the 'end' of bickering and quarrels, but their occurrence is greatly diminished. Eventually, the sparkle will fade and tarnish with rushed evenings to get homework, projects, dinner and showers taken care of before a bedtime that slowly gets pushed back, because there is always another excuse or request that the kids will have to stretch their bedtimes and our patience.  Summer was a lovely guest, but Back to School and Fall are more than welcome!!!