School Year Resolutions

I’m doing my laundry today, and it occurred to me that at some point it stopped being the family’s laundry and became just mine. When did that happen? Not that I hate having less work to do, but it seems like I should have noticed something so momentous.

It started out with just mine — my husband has always done his own, with no complaints from me. Then we started having babies. Each child we brought into our family seemed to double the amount of wash. (I took the photo above on a day I was feeling a little overwhelmed. I love that I can see a little snowman sleeper in the pile.) Our weekly mountain of laundry grew ever higher for a decade. If I missed a week, that entire floor would be buried.

Then it started shrinking. I rejoiced! Who wouldn’t?

But I don’t remember when It became just mine again. Why does that make me sad?

It reminds me of the day my youngest started Kindergarten. I cried the whole way home. Then I went grocery shopping and teared up again at all the moms with their babies and toddlers. I felt so alone. Then a toddler started screaming and I felt a lot better. There’s a lot to miss, but there’s a lot not to miss.

We’re about to leap into another school year. This will be our second to last.

Do you do school year resolutions? It’s not a formal thing, just a vision of how I’m going to finally stay on top of things for the whole year — or at least for the first two weeks. With only one child in school now, I’m pretty sure I can do it.

This Year I will:

• Not go back to bed after dropping my son off
• Do sunrise yoga AND run on the treadmill before work (or walk. Let’s be realistic.) iFIT makes it more fun.
• Remember to take the kid to EVERY orthodontist appointment so he can eventually be done with braces
• And (this might be a little too ambitious) I won’t drive him to school in my pajamas and slippers

I think we know that last one won’t happen.

It’s a pretty manageable list. The kid is basically on cruise control at this point. He keeps his own schedule — and does a far better job of it. Another thing to rejoice about.

Wishing you a happy back to school time!

PS: Don’t forget to celebrate!