Struggling with back to school schedule.

[Mrs-M]

I'm feeling it, again. (The recoil of the old back to school schedule). I go through it every year, and every year (around early August) I tell myself, "I'm going to approach things different this year", yet every year the new school year starts, I jump through the very same hoops I jumped through the prior year. i.e. Tired mornings, overly late nights (playing catch-up), and generally just trying to get back on top of the mound and reset my own lazy clock/schedule back in line and sync with the kids schedule.

Good news is, thanks to the arrival of cooler temps, I'll now be able to work on restocking my frozen meals section in the freezer with homemade soup, stew, chili, and lasagna again, and that's always such a blessing when it comes to bailing me out on busy days. It's funny how 8 short weeks over the course of summer can turn ones regularity completely upside down. Just wanted to share.

[mtnlaurel]

I'm right there with you Mrs. M. I am on the other side of the coin though ----- craving the structure to get us back in line!

[CathyA]

For me it was a trade-off........getting up at 5:30, but knowing that the day would be really quiet! .......until 4p.m.! Mrs.M., I'm sure it doesn't help to have our natural internal clocks saying to us "Its getting to be time to hibernate!"......when you have to actually rev your schedule up.
Good luck finding a happy balance!

[jania]

Somehow Mrs-M lazy just doesn't come to mind whenever I think about you. Good luck getting into the new routine of things, I know you will do it!

[Float On]

Somehow Mrs-M lazy just doesn't come to mind whenever I think about you.

So agree! :)

We're actually handling the early mornings better than I thought we would this year - or maybe I should say I'm handling it better! I too need to spend a few evenings or weekends restocking the freezer with easy things. Its been turned off all summer but it is time!
Mrs-M may want to start a thread about favorite meals to stick in the freezer. (hint hint)

[leslieann]

I am struggling with my IRRITATION about DSD's schedule for sports and tutoring which happen during the 5-7 hours five days a week. Thursday and Friday are the ONLY days that are not affected in terms of having a family dinner.

She has to eat something between school and activities, so DH is making her an extra sandwich, but by the time she gets home another sandwich is all she wants (and actually, I don't want to put a meal on the table at eight either, except maybe Saturday). I hate that activities cut into family time. I hated it when my kids were kids and I hate it now with my DSD who is 14. She is only with us every other week but this affects all the time we are all together as a family.

I bet I am not the only one with this school-time gripe.

Yeah, and not to hijack, I should also say that lazy and Mrs. M are not words that happen in the same sentence. I was thinking of you, Mrs. M, yesterday, as I wiped up spots on the kitchen floor and how often you wash your floors. Mine....well, not so much.

[Bastelmutti]

I hear you. We started before Labor Day and then Labor Day weekend felt like summer again. The kids are coping with school fine, but I haven't internalized the schedules yet because many activities haven't started yet. My kids are just doing one each in addition to the Saturday cultural program they attend, but the family we trade after-school care with (2x days the kids are here, 2x days the kids are there) have umpteen activities and one more child than we have, so we're still trying to work out who will be where and when.

That said, I am going to be *very* busy with my own - consciously and happily chosen - activities plus work this school year, so I am trying Motivated Moms to keep up the house. So far, DH, who is a far better housekeeper than I, but now works long days outside the house, is happy, so it must be working!

[Bastelmutti]

PS Mrs-M, I will post in Food asking you about your lasagna recipe!

[domestic goddess]

I'm with you, Mrs. M., on looking forward to the cooler weather to do some cooking! The last few days have been so cool here that it would have been a good idea to heat up the house with the oven, but I wasn't prepared. Today I'm going to at least make some cookies. Actually made a casserole for dinner last night, and it was okay. New recipe and okay,but not great. Still, I'm looking forward to getting back into the swing of things again.
I know it's petty, but I am ticked off with dd about something that happened yesterday (yes, I know, but I just don't seem to be into "forgive and forget"), so am planning to lead my own life here, including meals, partly because they so often fix things I just can't eat. They are free to partake of anything I make, as I know there will be too much. The other resident of the house enjoyed my little dinner last night, because it was HOT! So there is only about a serving of leftovers.
I will be glad when we get over this transitional weather, because every joint I have aches. I can take hot, I can take cold, but the in-between stuff, not so much.

[Zoe Girl]

I remember those days when we had swim team and girl scouts (I was leader too) and just going and going. I learned to love my crock pot. I worked mid days part time so I had time to get kids to school, put dinner in the crock pot, and then after school they could eat anytime before or after swim practice, or super quick between swim and scouts. At least we were in a small town and everything was super close by.

[Mrs-M]

So nice hearing from everyone.

Mtnlaurel. In a lot of ways, I too am also craving the schedule again. Being up before everyone else, coffee on, maybe posting a message or two on the forum, and just feeling that sense of peace, quiet, and relaxation, but boy is it ever hard getting back into it again.

CathyA. I love the peace and quiet that early mornings bring, too. My mind works better, which, allows me to plan things better and more thorough. Over the course of the winter months, morning don't bring me a lot of joy (being dark and all), but early mornings from spring till fall definitely add bounce and step to my stride. There's nothing like waking early (before the rest of the household), pouring myself a cup of coffee, then going out to do an hour or so of watering. I live for that.

Jania. Aw, you are so sweet. Believe it or not I actually do have a lazy side to me, it's just that I never get the chance to exercise it! LMAO!

Float On. A big part of my ability to cope on days where I'm maybe a little tired or feeling under the weather, is my morning coffee. I don't know what I'd do without my coffee! It's like I wake in the morning and repeat the words, "coffee, coffee, coffee... where's my coffee"!

P.S. Love the sounds of your idea Re: favourite meals to stick in the freezer. OK, done deal. :)

Leslieann. It's all good, school-time gripes are a good thing. It gives us a much needed chance to air our woes and tribulations. I find, sometimes, it's the most basic and simple of threads that help one move past normal everyday frustrations and testing times. I know in speaking for myself, just hearing from others always helps comfort me. (Knowing I'm not alone). P.S. You and Jania and Float On are too kind in complimenting me on my non-lazy ways. Thanks for that.

Bastelmutti. I really admire working moms. I often say to myself, "how do they do it"... The running, the planning, the scheduling, the time-frames and deadlines, whew, just thinking about it tires me out. P.S. Will definitely stop by your lasagna thread!

Domestic Goddess. The heat kills me. This year in particular, we've used our barbecue more than ever. Seems the continued heatwave just won't let up. I miss the likes of roasts in the oven and casseroles, but just can't bring myself to using the oven (for any length of time) when it's searing outside. P.S. Re: the casserole you made, keep fiddling with it till you get it right. I still have one or two dishes I can never make to please the critic that resides inside of me, yet I never give up on trying to master the ingredients for a better outcome.

Zoe Girl. Believe it or not, I plan on doing a lot more in relation to crock pot meals and things. It's sooo easy, and eliminates so much of the regular ordinary slaving one has to do to prepare a tasty and wholesome meal. (Thanks for the reminder)!