'Moms Talk' Q & A: What Are Your Feelings When School Starts Again?

Each week the council will answer a question on parenthood posed to them by readers or another member of council.

This week, the Moms Council talks about children returning for another school year.

I'm sure for most moms the start of school brings a mixed bag of feelings – perhaps relief to have more structure back in your child's day or sadness that summer has ended.

Then there's also the scrambling to buy the needed supplies or take kids off to college.

Let's see what the moms have to say:

Kim Zannetti: You nailed it on the head. It is sad that free time is truly limited, but the structure can sometimes help. It helps when the kids are a little excited.

Susan Jerome: I dread the children going back to school. I work full time and am a single parent so everything is on my shoulders. The medical forms, the personal history forms, the money for supplies and clothes! It becomes overwhelming. I'm even a super-organized person and I still get frustrated with all that is required for the beginning of the school year.
 
In addition to the above responsibilities, there is the request from the school to volunteer. So, I begin to review my vacation time from work to see how much time I can offer to the school. There are also meetings (after a day of work and cooking dinner) to attend and candy or raffle tickets to sell; I wonder, how many times can I ask my co-workers to buy things to support the school? 
 
Then there are the projects and the special items I have literally searched for days to find in a store so the children can make the presentation. There was one project a teacher required the software program, Publisher, to be used. I didn't have that program. Fortunately, one of the children's classmates had it so I didn't have to buy it.
 
Back to school also means the end of summer and winter is on its way.
 
Thanks, but I'll take summer vacation over school anytime!