It's the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

But not for me. For the third year in a row, I don't have a kid to get ready for the first day of school. The last time I got to shop and get someone up for the first day of school was August 2008 which was DoodleBug's last first day of school. Well, we did move her into a dorm room in August of 2009 for her first year of college- so, that counts. Right?

I should be practically giddy that I don't have to try and get a kid up on the first day of school

I should be extremely grateful that I didn't have to fight to get a kid to go to sleep so they would get up for the first day of school.

I should be thrilled beyond belief that I didn't have to take out a second mortgage to buy school supplies, new school clothes and pay school fees.

I should be tickled pink that I didn't have to sit in first day of school traffic.

I should be delighted that I didn't have to prepare breakfast for four little girls and rush out the door to be on time for the first day of school.

I should be elated that I didn't have to leave a kindergartener crying on the first day of school- actually, I am glad about this one! Though none of the lovelies ever cried at school.

And I am grateful in some ways. But I really do miss those days. We had such fun getting ready for school and going on that first day back. The lovelies LOVED school. But then, it was easy to love school around here. They attended the best elementary school around and had the most amazing teachers!

Middle school left a lot to be desired but the two older lovelies attended the School of the Arts and I homeschooled the two younger ones.

Even high school was full of more good than bad. Seriously, with four daughters attending the same high school and all the teachers they had, we only experienced three who had no business teaching anybody anything EVER.

All is not lost, however. I do still wander the back to school aisles to see what majorly cool cannotdowithoutthem supplies they have these days. Remember those black and white marbled composition notebooks? They have the coolest colors and designs now! I bought two to use for journaling! I even bought more pens that I just had to have! And it was fun listening to the arguing debates between the moms and their kids as to the importance and need of certain items. And then there was the dad who had his three kids in there and had no idea on the face of the earth what he was doing. Good thing the kids were telling him the things they 'needed'. God only knows what those three showed up with today. But it was sure good for a chuckle.

I do still volunteer at the elementary school. And I enjoy it so much! But it's different. I'm not up there now because my kids are up there and I get to see them at school. I just do it because it fills up empty hours it's fun. And hugs from elementary school kids are so rewarding.

But, for the most part, I just watch other people get their kids ready for the first day of school. And remember fondly a time not so long ago when I was one of those frazzled moms trying to make it back to school on time.