Back to school is upon us, and I’m met with mixed emotions about my children FINALLY being out of the house for a decent amount of time. Last school year, my kindergartener never made it out of hybrid. While I was spoiled having her with me for most days, I also had her with me most days. My twins attended preschool part-time and were only out of the house nine hours a week. Their collective schedule did not leave much productive alone time for Mom. But ladies, this year is my year! The newly first grader will be in-person, full-time, and the twins will have longer hours at preschool.
There will be times I know the silence in my house will be deafening, and it will make my heartbreak just a bit. On the other hand, there’s a life that I used to lead where being a servant to three little people wasn’t part of. Is there a chance I can have some semblance of such a life again? A chance to do some things for ME?
This summer, my children and I made a bucket list of all the fun things we wanted to do, and while summer isn’t entirely over, we have gotten to most of them.
For back to school, I decided to create my own bucket list. Moms, join along with me in reclaiming some much-earned time to do things for ourselves. Here’s my Back to School Bucket List.
1. Work
Going back to work a week before a pandemic at a new job – who could’ve predicted? While I’m proud of my career accomplishments, I know I could do a ton more to grow my business without my tiny office mates at home. As a new courtesy to my clients, I will be offering phone conversations without background noise, screaming, and slamming doors – you’re welcome!
2. Organize My Home
Taking a page from contributor Charity (Instagram @20minuteedit) and getting my stuff in order. Have you ever tried to get rid of things in your house with your children home? The thought of ditching the toy shoved in the back of the closet for three years could send any child into a tantrum for hours. No one will be any the wiser of what comes and goes in this house this year.
3. Make the Call
Ever go to reach out to a friend, a fellow mom, or a family member who you genuinely care about and then get distracted by twenty other things in a day? All. The. Time. I promise to make the call this school year, send the text, forward the meme, and check in on more people I love. I haven’t been great at staying in touch this past year, and I want to be better.
4. Shutterfly
Okay, this one is a full-time job. I have every picture I’ve taken since my first child was born stored in Shutterfly. Each year I create photo books with the pictures. Here’s the problem, once I had twins in 2016, the photos were still saved, but the book-making stopped.
5. Shop Local
The new café, the local coffeehouse, the hot lunch spots, the cute boutiques, the places you don’t want to corral three children around, I’m going to them all!
6. Work Out, Outside
Since having children, I have been a slave to the gym, the local Y with babysitting pre-pandemic, and now my home gym. While spinning or running along to Peloton at home has been amazing, sometimes I get that urge to be outdoors and feel like I’m really going somewhere.
7. Make Appointments For ME
Would I ever miss an annual checkup for one of my children? NEVER! Have I had an annual physical since 2019? Definitely not! I’m calling all the doctors and making appointments to make sure I can keep this body going for another 40 years.
8. Mornings With Moms
It’s my vision to sit over breakfast and commiserate on surviving another summer. Local moms, please know I have prosecco chilled, and I’m ready for you!
9. Volunteer
I know I said that this was a bucket list for ME, but to be honest, I’m excited to share some of my free time volunteering.
As I send my three back to school with tears lingering in my eyes, I know I have this bucket list to look forward to.