Mommiedom

Monday is back to school and YEAH!!! Could I shout it any louder? Don't get me wrong, I love my kids and it great to spend the time together and I will one day look back all teary eyed thinking about how they were so little as this disgusting teenager farts on their way out of the kitchen. Oh wait I have a preteen and kindergartner who already do that!

I actually like having my kids go to school because they thrive on structure. I am pretty sure my nine year old read like a whole two hours all summer (okay she ready nearly every night but it was junk stuff i.e. Star Wars and Sport Stats). So new rule is that once school starts back up we read things with some purpose so compromise was some Goosebump books. She is pretty good about reading substance over fluff for the most part.

I look forward to hearing all about the wonderful things they are learning every day. Sometimes they even surprise me with new stuff or with stuff, I didn't think they were learning yet. History club was awesome last year because we had lots of great conversations about the world.

This is he first year I have both kids in school full time. One very excited fourth grader and one not so sure about kindergarten. We talk about the expectations that we have as parents and of course what the teachers will expect. I need to make sure I mention to the kinder teacher that we aren't a Yes Mam or yes sir household (we grew up in the north where you just don't do it).

So the bet is on on how long the boy will be be before he gets his first conduct mark at school. The girl has yet to get one and is do for one here soon. Most likely hers will because of my laziness of signing the folder which starts somewhere around January which is of course the time I need to bribe the teacher as well with some sweets or liquor (all depends on what her likes are).

It is also the time of year where I need to determine what sort of parent I will be for each kids teacher. Yes I am happy to be your room Mom but only if I can be the head one and I get good Moms who are willing to help out but hey if you already have like nine Moms who want to be room Mom, I am happy to just be helpful which is pretty much what I am most years except the year I was asked to be the room mom back in May if the teacher got my kid. Good thing I like the teacher because I said yes and for the most part it was a great experience. I had lots of great help but I am not shy from asking for it either.

I have one friend who somehow always gets stuck with no room mom so she somehow gets roped into it. I am figuring odds are high in our favor that our girls will be together, so I guess odds are I will be the fourth graders room mom this year and than the guilt will come into play so likely I will be the kindergartner''s one than add on on my PTA duties plus I was thinking of going back to work. Okay maybe I will just be a very helpful parent to them. Decisions decisions decisions.

The other parenting decision will be how much I want to interact with the teacher. My belief is to have an open relationship but not to bug to much. I rarely question the teacher because they are educated in it and even though I am quite educated, this doesn't mean it is education. I would hate to be a teacher and have that former teacher parent questioning everything. I would hate for any parent to question everything I do as a teacher so I am not a hover helicopter parent though once the hubby's drone project is up and running, we may have one follow them to school every day.

I try to be somewhere in between with the kids. I care but I also trust in the teacher. If we have a good relationship, I hope they can come to me when a problem arises and vice versa. That is why I honestly like having repeat teachers but this year, it will be a new one for kinder because the teacher left to be a Mom and I never have had a fourth grader before so it will be a new experience.

Overall I have been lucky as a parent with my kids school. They are learning so much and I enjoy being a part of the experience as well. I try to be just involved enough where I am known but yet not the mom who is constantly up there. I also enjoy my time away from the kids. So here is to another great school year.

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Oh My the Everyday section in the current catty is huge and so many options. So this week we are Casing one of our favorites from that section for CTC!

This is such a fun section and I love so many of the cards and ideas that were to choose from. I specifically picked the card from pg 105 using the Tap Tap Tag set on pg 104.

Thanks for stopping by!

Three weeks left for summer break and I couldn't be happier. I am not one of those Moms who likes the lazy days of summer- I dread them. Its hot in Texas like super hot, you can't seem to breath outside hot so we linger in doors most of the time only to venture out to the pool here and there which isn't at all refreshing at all. We don't do yard work until the sun starts setting because it is so hot. So most of the time we are cooped up in the house or inside somewhere. So the kids going back to school is wonderful and joyous thing because it gets them going out on a regular basis plus I get to regain my sanity because I no longer will hear hours on end about Minecraft, Terriaum, or what the Hobby kids are playing with this week. 

So the countdown begins and I am ready for school. The first year the oldest went to Kinder, I was frantic running around getting supplies the night before school because I couldn't find one thing on the list. I was stressed to the max because well it was my first. Next year, I wasn't as stressed about it as she headed to first but still stressed some. Less stress the third year for second (It helped we had a great teacher that year). Than I wised up and well last year was a breeze. Why may you ask, well because I preordered the school supplies from the school and had all the school clothes shopping done by the end of July. August was a joy of relaxation and the last dog days of summer. 

So this year, I did the same and it was so much easier even with both going to school. One is in Fourth and my baby is going into Kinder. 

So here is what I did - I got organized and because I was last year, this year is easier. Clothes shopping is done and is quick. The kids can wear summer stuff till October, so we buy a few new things and add as the year goes. I also watch the sales and shop that way. I got six pair of jeans (I bought big) for 40 bucks with coupons. I likely spent a total of 150 bucks for clothes for both because of how I shop. My kids at this age don't need expensive things that they will outgrow in an instant. 

We purchased a new backpack and lunch kit for the boy but my daughter is using the same one from that last two years. I spent about 60 bucks on a new set from Vera Bradley a few years ago, and it has stayed so nice. I just throw it in the washer and air dry it. It looks brand new. I told her she can go get a new one for middle school.

So our backpacks are ready to go and new water bottles which of course were personalized.