School started again today – and I wouldn’t be being entirely honest if I didn’t admit to feeling more than a little pleased.
Okay, after whooping with relief, I’m now grinning from ear-to-ear and lying poleaxed on the sofa, feet up, magazine in one hand, TV remote in the other and the iPad back in my possession (I’m sure I’m not the only mum who multi-tasks while relaxing).
Don’t get me wrong – I (mostly) loved our countless outings to the beach, the park and the mall over the Christmas holidays; we had several successful playdates where the children didn’t injure or maim each other; and as well as spending time with my beloved cheeky cherubs, I finally caught up with mum friends I hadn’t seen in ages.
I’m not moving, I’m really not!
I feel a lot more relaxed than I did before the holidays – and not particularly thrilled about getting back to crack-of-dawn starts (why do schools in Dubai have to begin at 7.45am?), packed lunches, homework and the cat-walk that is the Dubai school drop-off.
But, what I won’t miss is the need to keep your little ones entertained every day, for fourteen hours a day – with new ideas and venues required each day and no afternoon at Grannies to break up the holiday.
If you’re not a parent, I may need to explain:
It starts early, shortly after sunrise and while your tightly shut eyes are still flitting from side-to-side in dreamy REM sleep.
They come bounding in, full of the joys of the morning, and in unison chorus, “Mumm-eeee, what are we doing today?”
If you ignore them (say, you bury your head in your pillow), they simply try again… on a loop:
“Mumm-eeee, WHERE are we going today?”
They know you’ll have to think of somewhere to take them out to, because if you don’t, you’ll be the first to throw crockery at the wall.
There may then be a period of play (or perhaps TV) punctuated by sibling spats, but by 11am, the antsiness has started to build.
“Mumm-eee, I’m bored,” you’ll hear, followed by: “I SAID, I’m bored!”
“I’m SUPER bored!” the other one chips in, not to be outdone.
And, believe me, this isn’t music to your ears. So you trigger ‘the plan for the day’. You run round the house, packing beach bags, filling water bottles, wrapping snacks, looking for lost items. You give them a quick lunch so you don’t arrive somewhere with whiny, hungry children. You even get them to go to the toilet, find the swimming goggles and run a brush over your own hair.
“Right, let’s go,” you pant. “Shoes on.”
Only to be met with cries of:
“Awwww, muuum! It’s my favourite programme… why can’t we just stay home today?”
Cue: a further 10 minutes spent cajoling them out of the house.
As I said, it’s been lovely, but I’m revelling in the mummy break today!
Enjoy your break!! I was quite relieved as well to wave good -bye to the school bus. Back to the routine!! xx
Phew! It seems to be taking all week to get back into the routine though!
Gak – I remember those days well. The worst was when we lived in Kentucky when the boys were small. We’d have at least one whopping ice or snow storm every winter that kept us housebound. Even if we did go out, it was only briefly, because they’d get cold and want to go back in (and there is nothing as frustrating as bundling a child up in 40 layers of clothes only to get them outside and have them decide they’re ready to go in!) A favorite strategy was a chair pulled up to the kitchen sink full of water and bubbles, and all of my most interesting kitchen utensils (especially the turkey baster.) Yes, they got soaked and made a mess, but it occupied them for half an hour or so. Back to school tomorrow myself – not looking forward to waking up in the dark!
Good luck with going back to school MsCaroline! HOpe the term has started well 🙂 And those mornings get lighter soon…
7.45am start? Luxury! 😉 When I worked in Doha the children started at 7.30, but the staff were there much earlier of course – by about 6.45 most days. The upside was the early finish – which gave us free time in the afternoons (well, 3 times a week).
As a mum, I always enjoyed the school holidays, but also enjoyed having time to myself again after they were over. 🙂
6.45 – ugh!!! I always wonder what time the teachers have to get in – and I’ve even calculated backwards to figure out what time they would have to get up! It must have felt like you were getting up in the middle of the night! Hats off to you!
At least it was just me I was having to organise, not a family, so it wasn’t too bad really. It was amazing how quickly I got used to it though.
We sure are looking forward to getting back into the routine here too. Tired but bored kids have lost their will to live. A bit of school and homework and they won’t be long losing that “I’m bored!” face!!!! 😀
Hope the first week goes well! Slowly getting back into it here, tho the early starts have felt like getting up for an early-morning flight!!