I have a friend who refers to this month as "May-cember." And any parent of school-age children--or any teacher--knows why: May is right up there with December as the craziest month of the school year*.
There are just so many things going on. So many extra events, so many special treats to provide, so much special apparel, gifts, cards, and on and on and on. There is SO MUCH to remember.
Let's just take the last week, for example.
We had field day for the elementary (sunscreen, athletic shorts, the special t-shirts provided by the school) and the FFA awards banquet (FFA official dress, which must be ironed) on the same day.
There was a field trip for one kid the day after (more sunscreen, a water bottle, spending money for the gift shop).
Saturday, I baked bread for teacher gifts.
We went to a graduation party Sunday afternoon (card+cash, in addition to the food I made for the potluck).
Monday, one boy woke up mumbling that they were watching a movie in class that day and did we have any snacks that would be good for a movie? So I was making maple kettle corn at 7 a.m. Poppy announced they were having a "camping" day in her class, as well as a water fight, so she needed a pillow and blanket and an extra set of clothes to change into after the water fight. The older two boys had track pictures, which required them to bring their track uniforms. And I had a meeting at the school in the afternoon. We finished off the day with the (THREE-HOUR LONG) sports award banquet, to which I brought a dessert, as requested.
Today is an overnight field trip for the younger two boys. I will help them get together their change of clothes, toothbrushes, etc., when I wake them up. I didn't get home from the sports banquet until after 9 p.m., which is why we didn't do it last night. Also, Poppy's teacher had a granddaughter born yesterday three weeks early, so she won't be there today and A. is going to substitute for her.
The two boys return from their field trip Wednesday night. Thursday is the last day of school awards assembly and staff vs. students volleyball game, and then we are done at 2 p.m.
Done in more than one way. We're all going to fall across the finish line this year, but we will make it. Just three more days . . .
* If you live somewhere where the school year goes to June, I suppose it would be June-cember, although that's kind of awkward.
20 comments:
As we say here in Alabama....your shirt tail's not hitting your back end in May!!!
Our school year ends on June 9, but we are still having May-cember! We had something every day last week. Thankfully only two days this week, because I have trouble with that much activity level. Plus the house is an absolute disaster.
At least it's busy in a good way. Except the 7am popcorn making.
Oh my. Don’t even bother to respond to my texts about your upcoming drive. Just make it through these last days with no thought about anything after that! How soon we forget how hectic and tiring life can be with active children.
Solidarity fist bump.
Nah, it's okay. Because they go out the door with all their stuff for their various trips and activities, and I am home. :-)
Never heard that one. :-)
I could have done without three hours of seeing the same twenty or so athletes go up to be recognized for all the sports . . .
I guess this is a benefit to homeschooling? But… as a drawback the kids don’t ever leave the house 🤪
In Australia the end of the school year is about a week before Christmas, sometimes a day or two less. Doubly crazy…..Kathy
I guess it all happens at once though. May/June is more relaxed for us, leading into a shorter winter break. Kathy
Yeah, that would be a significant drawback for me. There are for sure both pluses and minuses to the two methods of schooling.
Wow. Next level.
I think my head just exploded reading this!!! A friend just the other day called it May-cember too. Looking at my calendar (and it’s only me) just made me want to take a nap :)
Here in the uk our school year goes from the first week in September to the last week in July and now they are saying the 6 week holiday is too long. The whole country is trying to get their annual holiday into a month is just not work. If you take your child out of school without permission and you get a fine. Thank goodness our children and grandchildren are no longer school age.
That's not just the UK. Our state is continually trying to add days to our school year, force us to a five-day week, shorten breaks . . . It's very annoying. Of course, our "annual holiday" (summer break) is at least two months long. It used to be a full three months, though, so that has been eroded already.
I hate looking at a calendar with all the squares filled in. So tiring to contemplate.
We have had a new superintendent now for two years, and after her first year she made some pretty good May changes. They don't alleviate Maycember altogether, but they cut a lot of crap. (The FFA banquet is my least favorite because it's like your athletic banquet, but the supt isn't involved. Or at least not yet.) She combined the NHS induction with the academic banquet and also limited that guest speaker's time (hallelujah). She also squished together all the athletic awards into per class, per student, rather than per sport, per student. Each kid gets one envelope and one handshake and one announcement. The activities banquet was only maybe an hour and ten minutes for a change (again hallelujah). — Karen.
This is true leadership. Brava.
This is the way!
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