Who's Going Back to School?

No, not me. I've had enough school over the years and I'm happy continuing my education from living life. Ok truthfully, I doubt I could focus long enough to do the reading or the studying and taking the tests would be the end of me at this point so, there you go.

I've written about an empty nest and going back to school before right HERE  and HERE but I was wondering if my views had changed since 2012. They have a little bit. I realize any sentimentality I had towards school has lessened greatly. I don't find myself longing for the days my girls were in school though I do miss the excitement of the holidays during those years. As with most things in life, I have adjusted and moved on. I do believe my sweet little granddaughter has something to do with this but, what do I know?

Here's how I view the relationship between an empty nest and kids going back to school:

1. Empty Nesters don't have to take out a loan to buy all those school supplies. Even though those school supplies are just the cutest these days and I still love buying paper and crayons and markers and colored pencils and... Luckily, I have a wonderful excuse to continue this tradition--a granddaughter. And in another week or two, a grandson.
2. When the nest is empty, you don't have to deal with school traffic. In 2012 I was excited I could leave the house after that nasty school traffic ended but now the traffic is horrid no matter what time you leave your house. We were excited about the summer thinking we could go anywhere anytime like we usually do but the traffic never died down this year. I'm telling Y'all, the growth in this town is out of control.
3. Empty nesters only have to get themselves out of bed and they can do so when they want to. I still don't miss having to get 4 daughters out of bed on school mornings but I do miss their excitement over learning. These girls of mine loved to learn and they really enjoyed school. I do miss that enthusiasm. They really didn't love getting up that early but once they were awake, they were ready to go to school.
4. Empty nesters don't have to fill out that ginormous stack of back to school paperwork. I still don't miss filling out all that paperwork TIMES FOUR. Good grief there were so. many. papers. Of course, now the paperwork is our own when we face retirement and insurance and any other paperwork we middle agers must fill out in quadruplet. 
5. Some empty nesters don't have to miss the little kids and how cute they are because we have our very own little grandchildren to remind us of that. 
6. Empty nesters are not confined by school hours when scheduling appointments. I'll still be careful about scheduling appointments but instead of scheduling them around school hours, I'll be scheduling them while school is in session and in the morning hours or I won't go. The traffic, Y'all. The dang traffic. 
7. Empty nesters do not have to check homework and while I still won't miss checking homework TIMES 4, I do miss reading with the girls. HOWEVER, I do have a granddaughter who LOVES reading with her grandma and it's just the best thing!
8. Empty nesters don't have to go out in the oppressive afternoon heat to pick children up from school. I get to stay inside and play with Baby M when she's here and get creative with some coasters when she's not. Let's all take a moment and be grateful for air conditioning...
9. Empty nesters don't have to endure parent/teacher conferences. I do miss the teachers, though. Whether as a parent or a colleague, the teachers at the schools the girls attended were/are the absolute best and I value the friendships I am blessed to still have with many of them. Best. Educators/Women/Friends. EVER. 
10. Empty nesters can enjoy more leisurely mornings and drink the coffee just because we like it. We even have time to watch the news or read the paper. Who knew? 

 Have a great weekend, Y'all!

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