is it really that time again?

The end of August always comes with mixed feelings. It is the time of year when all the kids go back to school, and while I must admit I enjoy the 6 hours of peace and quiet and being able to work without countless interruptions, and the fact that I can clean my house before 8:00 in the morning and it miraculously stays the same until 2:30 when they all come home, I have found that I already miss the carefree time of summer. It is the rush of getting up at 6:00 a.m. and trying to get the kids out of bed, including chores, packing school lunches, and doing the hair and having them look like they have parents, being bombarded with homework after school (and what is that anyway - doesn't school get enough of our time?), various activities to drive them to, trying to make them well rounded, dinner, and then the endless bedtime routine, trying to be responsible and get them to bed at a decent hour, reading to them, making sure homework is done for those teenagers, and trying very hard to get myself to bed at a decent hour, only to fall into bed realizing the same thing must be done tomorrow. I almost feel more in need of a quiet weekend after a week of school than I ever did during the summer. Oh well, the routine is good and keeps us all in check, but I really miss them. it seems so quiet. only 8 more months until summer.