The Great Big Pool of Goo

As summer vacation came to a crashing halt last week, I could honestly say that everyone in my house was looking forward to school. My oldest son was looking forward to catching up with his friends, my youngest was looking forward to starting a new school, and everyone was excited to meet the new teachers. Even I was excited to start teaching (especially after a full five days of in-service meetings at school). This excitement lasted all of two, maybe three, days, before it faded in the face of the “First Full Week” of school.

It was during this first week of school that everything began to fall apart and our house filled with goo. With each successive day, it became more and more difficult to get the boys out of bed and the whining about not wanting to go to school reached fever pitch. The homework battles also began, along with the delay tactics, the “I Hate Homework” rants, and the “Oh, I forget that at school” excuses. The stress of settling into the school routine has messed up the sleeping schedules, with my oldest son unable to go to sleep at night and my youngest son so exhausted that he explodes at the slightest provocation. Not a day has gone by without tears being shed, tantrums being thrown, patience being tested, and everyone being upset with themselves and everyone else in the house.

The first couple weeks of school are hard on everyone. Our kids are exhausted, they are required to sit down, regulate their talking, monitor their behavior and use their brains for the first time in two-and-a-half months. Our kids have to adjust to the school bedtime and the school wake up schedule. They have to finish homework when all they want to do is get outside and play (or watch television). We, as parents, have to get back into the school routine, just like our children do, which is always a test of patience. I know I haven’t been at my best this week, and neither has my wife. Our whole house has been a great big pool of goo.

So I ask you, just like my wife asked me earlier this week: When do the beginning of school meltdowns stop? I don’t remember.