As a mom, I think I’m supposed to be sad about my little girl being big enough to start preschool. I’ve read post after post after post lamenting the fact that children are headed back to school over the last few weeks. So now I’m questioning if I’m supposed to have mom guilt about the fact that I am actually not sad at all that my little mama is going to hop out of my super cool station wagon and right into her first ever day of school. Now I think I might be developing mom guilt about not having mom guilt. Is that a thing? Probably.
I’m excited for free time. I’m incredibly excited to have exactly 1 hour and 45 minutes of time four days a week when I can literally do whatever I want. Go to the casino? Sure. I can do for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Go for a run? Probably not. Start tackling my to do list that has 827 things on it? You bet! I’ve got so many fun things planned that I can just do without my adorable little helper.
Numero uno on that list: Immediately return home to do something that I literally fantasize about every single day…tomorrow is the big day…I’m blowing a little kiss goodbye…burning rubber out of the school parking lot…driving 25 minutes back across town to my house…stripping naked and then…I’m taking a proper fucking shower. My first real shower in three and a half years. I’m even going to find my blow dryer that got tossed into the back of a cabinet in my bathroom to blowdry my hair. Is it like riding a bike? Will I even remember how to do these things? Will we be able to afford our skyrocketing water bill?
Is it weird that I’m irrationally excited that I have 1 hour and 45 minutes to do whatever I want and that’s the first item on my list? Probably. Am I ok with that? If I’m being honest, no. Will I most likely come up with better uses of my time in the next few weeks? Absolutely. Is item number two on my list to just sit quietly and read a book? Yes..but with all of those showers I’m going to be taking, I’m doubting I’ll make a dent in this month’s book club book and if I’ve learned anything over the last three and a half years it’s that getting absolutely nothing done during the day is just as important as getting everything done.
Now you know why moms count down the day to school starting!! So the can take a fucking real shower! You have 1 hour and 45 minutes chose your time wisely!!! Instead of a shower go to BRnes and noble and buy a new book so the next day you can read the book! Just an FYI showers are overrated!!!
I still remember the anticipation and excitement of that night 44 years ago. Anticipating walking him to his classroom and then skipping down the hall to get out of there as fast as I could for my own private time. The next day came the shock, only my son was excited I was trying to sneak out of the hall before people saw that I was bawling like a baby, good luck with that peeling out of the parking lot without crying.
My favorite is sitting on the couch sipping my coffee while watching I Love Lucy… Instead of slamming my coffee so I can run around like a crazy person all day. No guilt… At all.
I remember back to the days of taking my girls to the first day of pre-school and I could not have been more excited for them and especially for me. So no guilt, Heather! Your reaction is more normal than you think.