Back to School
All my kids are now in school.
Gone are Child #1's thumping footsteps as he clomps around the house, a guitar slung over a shoulder.
Gone are the tip-tapping of Child #2's texting fingers and the tinkling cell phone bell that signals an incoming message.
Gone are Child #3's wild shrieks as he jumps out from behind doors and chairs to frighten me.
Gone is the lilting musical voice of Child #4 who sings for everything these days from snack requests to tattling on Child #3 to calling for Dorothy the Dog.
I've walked back down the hill to my quiet house. Well, except for the chug-chug of the washing machine. And the clicking of the Kreepy Krawler as it slurps up eucalyptus leaves from the bottom of the pool. And the whistling of the kettle.
I make a second cup of tea, sink into my large comfortable chair, sighing the sigh of mothers everywhere on that first day back to school.
I drag the heavy envelope from Random House across my coffee table and pull out the copy-edits for I So Don't Do Spooky. For a second, I close my eyes and just breathe.
Realizing how very very ready for this I was.
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My daughter starts school tomorrow, and my sons won't start until next week, so I have a few more days of thumping and jumping, laughing and tapping on the keyboard. And then there will be silence, except for teh faint whines of August, my dachshund, as he waits anxiously for 'his children' to come back to the house.
ReplyDeletePS - your book looks terrific!!! I loved Nancy Drew as a kid as well, my mother loved them too, and bought me the whole series. I wish I'd kept the books.
ReplyDeleteI have a YA book I'm trying to sell (nothing like a mystery book) so I queried your agent after reading your post. She sounds super.
Very ready because Yay this is a second book!
ReplyDeleteI remember that feeling--the kids back in school. Happy writing.
ReplyDeleteWe started back last week and I wasn't nearly as eloquent as you--I just said, 'Yeehaw!' ;)
ReplyDeleteI thought I heard the echos of "Ahhhhhhh" yesterday. The collective sigh of mothers, indeed ;-)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations...on everything!
ReplyDeleteI remember those days, those sighs...
ReplyDeleteBut wait until they head off to university - you have to be a different kind of "ready" when that happens!
As a homeschooling mom, a tiny part of me misses the quiet time you describe with your cup of tea. But as a mom of a public schooled child - before I pulled her out - I remember back-to-school as meaning the beginning of a hectic 10 months. Ten months of saying, "Did you finish your homework?" "Don't forget your lunch!" "The bus is hear, hurry!" "You're STILL doing homework?" Overall I don't miss a second of it. Though I know and understand it's not for everyone, I do wish more people had the opportunity to homeschool their children. I love it that much.
ReplyDelete~Debbie
Great details - really paint a picture of the four kids, but FOUR kids? My goodness, bet you were counting the days what with an envelope of copy edits calling to you.
ReplyDeleteStart of school here was delayed due to TS Fay. Bet lots of moms here were frustrated over that.
Aaaaah...enjoy. :)
ReplyDeletegrats on all levels, barrie....
ReplyDeleteVery sweet, Barrie
ReplyDeleteyup its back to school yesterday for us
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! I know how you feel. Well, except I still have a 3 year old at home, but the first 3 kids are gone and I feel a bit more relaxed.
ReplyDeleteThis is a nice change of pace from all the posts about being so sad to see the kids off - enjoy your quiet time!
ReplyDeletewhat i would exchange for those sounds again. my one, my only, is all growed up.
ReplyDeleteBecause I live half a block from the nearest elementary school, for me this time of year means the return of noise! Carpools filling the nearby streets, kids tromping and shuffling with leashed pooches clinking alongside, backpacks dragging and hasty drink boxes splatting on the sidewalk, siblings in strollers with squeaking wheels or toddling with loudly protested handholds. The symphony of September.
ReplyDeleteDespite the local charms, I do envy your lovely, quiet envelope and all it portends. Happy editing!
My kids started school today. Enjoy the time to yourself and good luck with your revisions!
ReplyDeleteI can imagine your sigh of relief with the silence... I am hoping to get there soon!
ReplyDeleteToday DJ starts Senior Kindergarten and tomorrow Ander starts Junior Kindergarten...they will be gone every morning...it will be just Madie and I...what will we do?!?!?!?!? I am soooo looking forward to our new routine - is that bad?!?!?!?!?
Enjoy adjusting to your new routine!