Just When I Thought I Had the Routine….

I have to confess that the past eight weeks have been a juggling act.  This is the first year I ever remember the kids going back to school and me having a hard time getting down a routine.  I am pretty good at “going with the flow” and don’t get stressed too easily.  If there is one thing I have learned over the past few years it is that life will not go as planned.  But this year has been different than school years in the past.  I have felt so stretched out.  Lately at night I have been thinking about it and came to the conclusion that a lot of it was that this year all of the kids seem to be at such different places emotionally.  I have a sophomore who loves her school and is comfortable there.  A high school freshman adjusting to a new school.  A brand new middle schooler who for the first time ever is going to a school without any of his siblings, a fifth grader who has tons of “last year of elementary school” stuff to do, a sweet and happy 2nd grader, and a kindergartner who is not too sure he wants to be in school at all.  Add one playing football for his school, three playing volleyball, three taking dance, and all the other extra-curricular clubs, homework, and projects….and I am maxed out.  
But as I have learned…apparently I was not quite at my limit.  My oldest is very happy at the huge school she goes too…but every child is different and it wasn’t a good fit for my other child who is just a year younger.  Keeping that in mind…I moved her to a smaller school.  So much of parenting is about giving up what is easiest for us and doing what is best for our children.  This was truly the case here.  The last thing I needed was another school (and this one is about a 25 minute drive from my house) to try and coordinate drop off, pick up, and activities at.  But I knew it was the right thing for my child.  Now I have six kids at four schools. Last night and this morning as I watched them all interact and saw six happy kids go to school, I realized it was worth it.  I will figure out this new routine, it may take me awhile, but I will get it down.  And for those six happy, smiling faces it is worth it.