By Christine Carter of The Mom Cafe

I’m tired.

So very tired…

I’m tired of this school year.

I want it over.

I’m tired of waking the kids up from a deep sleep with that frantic flurry of mobilizing their weary bodies out the door.

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I’m tired of checking the forecast and telling them it is NOT a shorts day.

I’m tired of fixing them breakfast and packing them lunch all before I see the sun peek over the trees.

I’m tired of telling them to get to bed because they have school tomorrow.

I’m tired of the Friday highs and the Sunday sighs.

I’m tired of pulling up to a dreadfully long line of cars at the school.

I’m tired of the drop-offs and pick-ups and drop-offs and pick-ups and then doing it all again at the end of the day…

I’m tired of idling at the drop-offs and pick-ups and drop-offs and pick-ups.

I’m tired- so very tired of people that STILL don’t know how to drop off and pick up their kid quickly.

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I’m tired of swearing under my breath at the people who don’t know how to do the drop-offs and pick-ups quickly.

I’m tired of the drivers who still don’t MOVE UP in the line, so that other cars can MOVE UP in the line to drop off and pick up and drop off and pick up.

I’m tired of swearing at them too.

I’m tired of stressing about being late to school for those drop-offs and pick-ups.

I’m tired of reading signs like “Flower Sale!” and “Field Day Sign Up!” And “Don’t Forget…”

I’m tired of getting emails from the school, reminders from the school, updates from the school.

I’m tired of take-home papers to read and sign.

I’m tired of all the end of the year events, activities, parties, and performances.

I’m tired of cramming all the end of the year events into our already over-scheduled calendar.

I’m tired of smiling.

I’m tired of waving and smiling.

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I’m tired of waving and smiling and waiting for kids weighted down with backpacks to cross the street.

I’m tired of driving 20 MPH.

I’m tired of my kids’ after school starvation and the desperate cries for food.

I’m tired of frantically scavenging any meager meal to feed my kids the SECOND we get home.

I’m tired of wearing fleece leggings. (I am aware this has nothing to do with school. Just had to note this ridiculousness.)

I’m tired of wearing pajamas in the car and hiding my tired, puffy eyes behind my sunglasses even when it rains.

I’m tired of saying, “Did you get your homework done?“

I’m tired of papers and binders and notebooks strewn all over the house.

I’m tired of looking for a sharpened pencil, a highlighter, or a lost book.

I’m tired of coming up with packed lunch ideas.

I’m tired of feeling like I’m failing at packed lunch ideas.

I’m tired of processed food.

I’m tired of fast food and rushing and ice cream after every special event.

I’m tired of thinking about the year ending and my kids being that much older.

I’m tired of thanking my kids’ teachers for all they do.

I’m tired of brainstorming and tormenting over teacher gifts.

I’m tired of thinking about how hard it must be for the teachers.

But the one thing I’m NOT tired of?

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Being grateful for my kids’ school and the teachers who work hard every day to give my kids the education they deserve.

I’m sure they’re tired too.

This post was originally published on Ripped Jeans & Bifocals. 

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About the Author

Christine Carter is a SAHM of two pretty amazing kids. She writes at TheMomCafe.com, where she hopes to encourage mothers everywhere through her humor, inspiration and faith. You can also find her work on For Every Mom, Blunt Moms, Parent,co., ForHer, Sammiches and Psych Meds, Mamapedia, Her View From Home, Grown and Flown, Huffington Post, MomBabble, and Scary Mommy. She is the author of Help and Hope While You’re Healing: A woman’s guide toward wellness while recovering from injury, surgery, or illness. Follow Christine on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.