No Mom Guilt with Back to School: I Like the Quiet
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Online I often hear from other mothers that they are so sad that their kids went back to school. How they will miss them so much and would rather have them at home.
And I have to admit, I’m not one of them. There, I said it.
Do I love my kids? Absolutely. I adore them.
Do I miss them during the school day? Certainly.
Would I rather have them at home? No way.
My two oldest boys are very social creatures. They love being out and and playing with other kids. They like learning and exploring. They don’t cry because they are away from me. They don’t make me feel guilty because I have to force them to go to school. They love it. They look forward to school and they come home happy at the end of the day.
And while I like having them around, I don’t care for their bickering. For their whining and constant strange noises. (Seriously, what is up with all the strange sounds?) All their interruptions to ask or tell me something totally random when I might actually be thinking about something else besides them. (Yes, I know this is part of being a mom but getting a break during the day from this is nice too.)
I especially don’t like having to constantly remind them to be quiet when they are near Wesley’s (18 months) bedroom and he is sleeping. To remind them again and again and again….30 seconds later.
With this schedule so many things are easier. I can get things done when Wes is sleeping. I can run errands with just one child instead of three. But most of all I get quality, one-on-one time with my little guy.
Now my time spent with him can be undivided. I don’t have to consider activities that all my kids can do no matter the age gap. I can tailor my day around him. And I don’t have to constantly protect him from the love of his brothers all day. (No really, they love him so much they smother him sometimes.)
I actually have the chance to miss my older boys during the day. And I love that. I shouldn’t be ashamed to admit that I need a break from them. That I really appreciate the quiet when they are gone. That I love the free time I get (usually working or cleaning up) when Wes naps.
So all you mother’s out there who say you wish you could keep your children with you all day, every day, good for you. I’m not going to judge you. But for me, having a break from them I know makes me a better mother to all three. That need for some alone time doesn’t make me a bad mom.
And for that, I have no mom guilt.
I don’t have a toddler at home, but I’m with you. My girls are 3 and 6. They go to daycare and school because I work full time outside the home and they LOVE it. I love coming up with fun projects for us to do at home on the weekends and we have a great time but I can’t imagine how bored they’d be with just each other and me for company.
My three boys are 10, 3 and 1. So, only my oldest is in school all day. I welcome the break! My younger two are relatively quiet by nature … the exact opposite of their older brother. Some days… I do want to pull my hair by 9am, BUT they happen much less often than when all 3 are home. My oldest HAS to be making some sort of noise CONSTANTLY!! I love him and I love that he is creative and that he loves to be active… but I don’t always need to hear it! He doesn’t understand the words “inside voice” or “shhhh… your brothers are sleeping!” I always feel like everyone is judging me because sometimes I NEED a break! lol I am a SAHM and rarely get any “me” time, and while I don’t complain about it, it really wears me down sometimes. 🙂
I’m with you. My kids are happy at school. I work from home, so I can focus when the house is quiet. I love my kids, but we all appreciate each other more when we’ve had a break from one another.
I’m with you! No Mom guilt here either 🙂
I am totally with you on this one. I really think that being apart makes me appreciate when I’m with them so much more. Plus, being able to have one-on-one time with each kid is so important too. Honestly, I’m really not super excited that we’re homeschooling this year. I’m looking forward to when we move and can get back to a regular school routine.
I’m one of the weird moms who totally hates when the school year starts. I get used to having them home and then, BAM, they are gone for 8 hours of the day. It takes me a while to get used to the change, but come October or November, I’ll be fine 🙂
I was always happy when school started,,even though I worked I like my days off with kids in school an got most of my house work done then with no interruptions,,but when the grandkids came I kept them full time for their mom for free,an hated to see school start ,,just weird I guess
I hate back to school and the boys leaving but I like that we go back to schedules and routines. We are far more productive during the school as a result. I couldn’t homeschool, I’d never get anything accomplished.
I love this post. I couldn’t agree with you more, I like the quiet. I love having kid time too, but knowing that they are some place they love learning new things gives me a great excuse to have me time.
I am a grandmother now and love the peace! had to work while mine were in school.. I will have to admit love when little ones or school ones either one come to visit in the afternoon!!
My daughter drops ooff my granddaughter in the morning and I take her to school. In the few minutes she is at my house she is like a tornado — I like the quiet once I get back home and I know she likes being in school.
I love the excitement of back to school but I’m one of those “oddities” who chooses to homeschool my kiddos. Check with me in a few years and see if I think it’s still a superb idea! 😀
(Currently have a Kind and PK homeschooler with one on the way)
break time lol
Absolutely no guilt at all!
no guilt cant wait for my lil one to start preschool next year lol
Once they are old enough to interact with others I think it’s great to have kinds in school. They learn social skills and prepare for elementary school.