Well, it is really happening. I thought this stage of my life would never arrive. Soon I am to become a mother who has all of her children at school. This week I took Liberty to the 'big school' for an orientation meeting and play in the 'big classrooms' and tour of the 'big school grounds'. I was half in tears and half excited beyond belief about this new stage of her life and my life. Liberty however was not showing any sign of tears at all and was jumping up and down with excitement!
The teacher doing the orientation just happened to be a wonderful lady who has taught three of my children in Prep and was very understanding of my mixed emotions. We had a lovely chat about Liberty and how she will adjust to school life and we both felt confident that she will transition well considering she has 6 other siblings at the school.
I on the other hand am finding myself in a stage of life now that I never thought would come. You know how it is when you have young cherubs, you know they are going to grow older and get bigger, but most days it seems like you are stuck in the same Groundhog Day doing the same thing over and over again and they really are not growing older or bigger at all. Well, let me tell you it really does happen. They really do grow older and leave your home and go to big school and you are left with an empty house. Sob! Yay!
I am finding now that I need to mentally and emotionally prepare myself for this next stage of life. I need a plan of action. I do plan on relaxing, on reading and writing more...maybe even get some work involving writing and getting my home in more order and generally keeping up with the kids. I however don't want to spend my days at home feeling sad and depressed and missing my kids every day. I need to find things to do to keep myself busy.
So I am asking you to help me out...what did you do when your children all went to school?
Or what do you plan on doing when they go to school?
I would love to hear how you felt and how you dealt with it all.
Hi Naomi, I couldn't wait to get stuck into my creative side when I reduced down from full time to part-time. The night before the days I am home I am already planning what my day will entail - I write a lot, go out and take photographs, cook and take photos (I love food photography), I catch up with friends and walk my dog (poor pooch barely got walked when I worked FT). I indulge in my creative side A LOT more than I used to when I was working FT. I love it. :)
ReplyDeleteThink of the spare time as 'me' time. Do more of what brings you joy. :)
Hello Naomi, think of this milestone as another blessing, of being a stay at home Mum, thanks for this very important topic. I too was very tearyeyed blurring my vision as I walked home after dropping off my 7th cherub to school on his first day...he couldn't wait to join his friends, just giving me a quick hug and kiss before disappearing in view..I guess it depends on your circumstances, if you don't have to go back to work then give yourself quality time to do whatever makes you happy and try not missing your little cherub...don't worry about chores they can wait, as for me I dreaded going back to work to pay the mortgage and bills while my stay at home chronically ill husband reaped the blessings of seeing my last 3 cherubs come home telling him how their day went. I'm grateful that my now 16year old last child undearstands why Mum wasn't always at home during his Primary School years..
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was, "have more children". But the truth of the matter is, that is not always something that we can do.
ReplyDeleteYou could possibly hang out at the school a little - helping the teachers or something? Not sure how that works these days, but maybe they still like parents to come and help out a little?
Take up a little hobby?
Having all the children at school will still keep you very busy. Lots to organise and plan and do.
that was me this year as Mr 5 went off to kindy i now work part-time 3 days p/w school hours and spend the other 2 juggling school volunteering and other appointments and household stuff i really feel like i had more time before he was at school don't worry about filling your time their will always be something to do.
ReplyDeleteOh this is me next year Naomi and I wish I knew the answer.
ReplyDeleteMy youngest of four will head to Kindergarten here in Tasmania (5 full days a fortnight) next year and I already have tears thinking about it.
It makes me sad that I am already at this stage, but then like you maybe I am ready for some time.
Some days I wish I could press rewind and re play some of those earlier days with a baby and little ones.
I am not good at letting go.
I know I am not ready to head back to work yet and have no idea what I want to do, so I think I will spend those few days a week next year trying to figure that out.
I also plan to exercise more, (join the gym maybe?) tidy and sort and clean my house, paint some walls, do parent help, take up meditation or yoga (or both!) do some gardening, read, write and catch up with people.
Maybe just maybe re discover me the person, rather than the Mum and Wife.
I look forward to hearing what you do with your time too.
I haven't got there yet. Somehow I managed to put it off that little bit longer. My seventh heads off to Prep next year and we thought he was "the" baby until our little surprise. It won't be long though till my youngest is there too and it will be very sad. Our eldest is in his first year of Uni so it has been a long, long time.
ReplyDeleteOur youngest starts school next year too. We will have one in final year (Yr 12, HSC year), one starting & one in Yr 5. I am planning on walking the dog, continuing my canteen volunteering once a month at the 2 schools & getting my house CLEAN. When I am bored with this, I will look for some part time work. But I am having some major ME time first. Time for me to be selfish. I may even take up tennis! Whatever it takes to make sure I am able to be the best wife & mum I can be.
ReplyDelete