Oh joy! Kids are back to school.
After some two months of scratching my head figuring out how to keep my kids out of my hair, you would think that now they are back in the wonderful care of the school system, paid for by my taxes, I can actually catch a break and go out for recess.
But I don’t hear the bell ringing yet. ’Cause, first, mom’s got to finish her homework.
I don’t mean shopping for school supplies, sorting through the piles of letters informing parents that their kids might be interested in this soccer club or that drama group, signing tons of paperwork that I’m sure is just a test to make sure parents can still do basic reading, writing and arithmetic. I can do all of the above, and pack lunches and snacks (times three kids) with my eyes fully closed, and pass these mundane tests with flying colors.
But my first “real” homework assignment is a challenge. It necessitates that I use my brain cells cleverly. Such as, writing a letter telling my teen’s teacher about my child’s interests, strengths and any other pertinent information that the teacher would find useful in getting to know my child.
Now I can easily string two words together and I know my kid well enough to write a tome. But aren’t homework for kids? Parents send their kids to school so they can put their brain cells to use while parents do real work, i.e., toil and sweat to pay the bills and run the household. That’s work enough.
Plus this is a tricky assignment that could spell disaster. The last time I wrote a letter about my son for his teacher, which my son had to read aloud to his classmates, my daughters gave me an F and crucified me. “How could I write [such and such] about him,” they cried out. “You totally embarrassed him.”
So, yes, the kids are back in school and it’s high time I kick back and relax with a glass of wine (or make that a cup of tea out of deference to my teen’s non-alcoholic pledge), but I need to do my homework first. And I need to think through this assignment. Especially since the subject matter is not my elementary school child but my teenager. I would rather be called into the principal’s office and be suspended than “EMBARRASS” my teen.
I am two days late with my homework so I had better get to work before my teen’s teacher sends me to detention for flouting homework rules by blogging my time away instead of turning in my assignment. Plus, I’m still hoping I can go out for recess.
