Back to School is kicking my butt. Is it kicking yours too?

Mayday. Mayday. 

I am waving my white flag. 

I surrender. 

Me, as Wonder Woman at age 4. 

I am trying to channel my inner Wonder Woman, 30 years later.  I could use a lot of Wonder Woman's powers these days. Wonder-Mel....where are you?

Back to School is officially kicking my a$$.

And, it's doing the same to my girls.

We have officially finished the first 4 weeks of school. 

So, 1 month in and things are still a disaster. 

The girls LOVE school. They love their teachers.
BUT.

Everyday when I pick them up, they are DONE. 

EXHAUSTED.

Arguing. Fighting. Nagging each other. Tears. Whining. Complaining.

EVERYDAY.

Seriously. Who's kids are these & what have you done with my girls?!?!?

MAKE IT STOP.

We have never had this much "drama" going back to school.

The past few weeks, I have been wondering why this year is so different. 

I realized that they are in school for longer than they are used to.

Last year, Claire was in preschool 3 days a week (in the morning) for 2.5 hours.

This year, she is in Transitional Kindergarten 5 days a week for  3.5 hours a day....in the afternoon.

It is a much longer day for her. TK is much, much, much more academic than Preschool.

Poor Claire is just exhausted when she gets home.

This just confirms 100% that we did the right thing on sending her to Transitional Kindergarten rather than Kindergarten. (You can read my post here on why we decided to do TK.)

At least we have done something right. Ha!

Kate is now in 1st grade which means she is at school for 6 hours everyday instead of 3 hours like Kindergarten. And, 1st grade is academically more intense than Kindergarten, so she is just plain exhausted also. In Kinder, she had monthly homework packets. They were super easy, no big deal. This year, she has weekly homework packets & needs to do assignments each day.

We tried doing them at home after we pick up Claire, but Kate just wants to play & is distracted by Claire, so because we have a crazy pick up schedule & I have 45 minutes between Kate getting out & Claire getting out, we have been doing Kate's homework in the car while we wait for Claire. So far that has worked this week, but I feel bad that Kate has to do her homework in the car.

 

Elementary School is a whole new ball game compared to Preschool.

Gone are the easy-breezy afternoons filled with baking, crafts & playdates.

 I thought since I am teaching less classes this year that I would have more time to fun things with my kids. Ummm, NO.

Depending on the day, I am done anywhere between 12:00 and 12:45. 

Then, I have to go get Luke.

Then, we have to drive & pick up Kate from school.

Then, we wait at school until Claire is out at 3:05. 

By the time I get everyone loaded back in the car & drive home, it is 3:30 by the time we get home.

So, basically, Luke and I spend about 2-2.5 hours waiting around or sitting in the car each afternoon. 

Not what I was envisioning. Now I understand why moms feel like they are taxi cab drivers.

And, poor Luke. Poor 3rd kid.  Stuck in the car. Thank you, Jesus that he is a happy go-lucky kid.

This past month hasn't fazed him one bit. 

We could all stand to learn a little something from Luke.....Just go with the flow!

I am tired from teaching 125 7th graders each morning. 

My brain is on over load learning about the new Common Core and implementing it into my classroom.

I am tired from waiting around & doing pick ups for 2 hours each afternoon.

 Everyday I brace myself for World War 3 at my house from the hours of 3:30-7:30. 

I am tired & have little patience during this time.

My poor girls are also exhausted. They bicker & push each others buttons.

They are having epic meltdowns that I have never seen them have before. 

 And, they are hungry because they haven't been eating the lunches I pack them (so frustrating...they even help pick out what they want)

Luke isn't napping as much because we are on the go.

And, he is on the go. He is a busy, busy, guy. Thank God he is happy.

Each evening I find myself counting down the minutes until Kevin gets home, until wine-thirty and until bedtime. 

That is not how I want to end each day with my kids...waiting for them to go to bed. But, that is how I have felt the last few weeks & that sucks.

I would have thought that by a month into school, we would have gotten into a routine & flow by now. 

My house is a DISASTER.

Decorations from Claire's Tangled birthday party are still up.

I have 4 loads of laundry that need to be folded. 

A dishwasher that needs to be unloaded.

But, I am too busy being a referee to the girls to keep up with any of the house stuff.

Thank you for letting me vent. I didn't mean to be so complain-y. 

Just keeping it real.

Life is good,  it has just been a rough re-entry for us.

Hoping this little season passes soon.

Anyone else having a rough time getting back into the swing of things this school year?

Please tell me I am not alone in this. 

HELP.

And send wine.