Back to School 101: Writer - Wife - Teacher - Mom

I would like to say I have all the answers about smooth back-to-school transitions, but the reality is I don’t. However, what we do have is a positive attitude, which helps our family to navigate the chaos and stress of returning to school. I will tell you that the weekend before I return to the classroom is the only one in which I successfully meal plan, catch up on the laundry, update the calendars, and remotely feel like I have a grasp on what’s to come. Then our alarm goes off between 4 AM and 5 AM on the first day of school, and we hit the ground running.

This preseason we had three different schedules going just for soccer. This did not include the trips made to town to either bring or pick up from summer employment or the most desperate need to do something with a friend. Everything feels desperate, it seems, when one is 13 or 14 years old. The only strategy that helps us to get where we need to go is to wake up EXTRA early. My family will tell you that I have “time” issues. I hate being late - always have and probably always will. I struggle with others who have a hard time getting places unless they have a bunch of kids or a significant life struggle, disability, or transportation issue. Geoff takes an hour to do his morning routine, give or take 15 minutes, but for him to be out of the house by 6:30, we wake up at 4:30.

During the school year, I often do my best work in the wee hours of the morning because my brain is fresh, and I’m able to complete my school grading with clear thinking, uninterrupted by my family. As most teachers know, the “planning” period isn’t actually enough time to do more than plan, forget grading altogether. And I feel that I owe it to my students to comment on their writing when I’m not worn down from the day.

Our kids are older now, and that is helpful. However, I’d be lying if I said there was not much yelling in the morning. The rule is if they aren’t in my car by 6:50 then they can take the bus like most kids in America. But they don’t like the bus because of where we live; they are on for a while. They do make their own lunches, pack their school bags and soccer bags, and, if they forget it at home, no one goes back for it.

I coach our daughter’s middle school team until 5 PM. Our son plays on the varsity team (for the first time), so his practice ends at 6. My husband coaches the varsity team with our dear friend Heidi, and they get home at 7. During preseason, they held workouts on a sandy beach and on a field that had just been mowed. He brings everything inside with him, which helps me confirm my lack of vacuuming. Because what is the actual point? We just wear shoes in our house; you should too if you ever visit.

But here is the thing: we would not change our chaos. We are honored to be part of our own kids’ “growing up” journey; we get to know their friends really well, and we try to model the “triage” of work, fun, and chores. While it’s not always fun, I think we prioritize the right things at the right time– at least in these moments. We first became friends coaching together on a soccer field a long time ago, and then we married. Maybe one day I’ll vacuum again.