We’ve nearly survived 1 full week of both girls in school.  Was that 1 week?  Because really, it has felt like a month.  We were warned by everyone: the first month is a tough transition.  Exhaustion.  Oddly short tempers.  Adding in Sara going from half day to full day and Kelly starting preschool…we should be prepared for some difficult afternoons and evenings.  What they didn’t say was “difficult” would be defined as my 3 year slapping me in the face (WHAT?!), and my 5 year old swinging so wildly between moods that I’m thinking of slipping Xanax into the drinking water.  Mine of course.  I’m very thirsty. For water…right, WATER.

There has been a whole lot of this.  But not dozing off, no.  Just children going from 100 mph to dead asleep, almost in the middle of sentences.

Even though I wouldn’t let Sara wear the famous candy corn socks with her pastel dress (apparently they go with EVERYTHING, can’t you tell?), I let Kelly.  Kelly went from boldly confident to a sudden, “I’m not going to school and I’m going to cry at the door and hang on Mommy with my entire life force.” I thought maybe her favorite socks would bring her comfort.  Sadly, no.  We sacrificed fashion and realized zero benefit.

Kelly’s doing a lot of this as well, but much like Sara, not in her usual pattern.  She screams all the way to naptime, and then falls asleep before I can reach the door most days.  Our sleep schedules are so wacky right now, I really have no words.  Nothing, and I mean NOTHING is getting done around here.

As if drop offs weren’t tough enough, my usual peaceful coexistence with Kelly in the house has turned a bit, um, sour.  Lots of hanging on me.  Lots of mischief.  Lots and lots of mayhem.  Finally Kelly admitted to her teacher, in so many words, that she feared she wasn’t my baby anymore.  OH!  Just because she’s been attached to my hip her entire life?  She’s such a confident child, I never anticipated she’d feel this way.  She left school today with her usual bright smile and yelling at the top of her lungs, “I LOVE IT!  I did everything and everything was my favorite!” And I answered it lots of hugs and cuddles and I told her she was my girl, and would always be my baby.  She smiled and said, “It’s OK Mommy.  I’m a big girl.  I love you my dear.”  And so I think, we may be on the road to remedy with Baby Kelly Belly.

We’re taking it a day at a time.  “Won’t wear pants” Sara is now scrounging around for shorts so she can hang upside down on the monkey bars with her cadre of girlfriends.  Kelly is reliving Sara’s early days of “extreme clothing choices”.  Every night we seem to be crawling into bed earlier and earlier.  Soon we’ll be wearing our pjs to afternoon pick up so we can go to bed the second we get home.  But we’re having smooth mornings and we’re getting to school early, and for me?  Getting anywhere on time consistently?  I’m not going to ask for more than that.  Well, that, and maybe for someone to pack the lunch boxes.  IDEAS?  Week 1, and I’m out of ideas already!  Not good considering I have 13 years to go.  Labor Day weekend might be coming at the right time for this house.  Happy September Friends!