Oh my gosh! I can't believe that the summer will be over in just days and school will be starting on Wednesday - freaky. I think I am the only mother in America who completely detests sending my kids back to school. I think all the other Moms are going crazy with a houseful of bored kids and can't wait to get them out of the house, but my kids never get bored, so I'm just the opposite. I love the freedom of letting them wake up whenever they want (usually earlier than I would like!) and not having to have them ready and out of the house by a certain time.

I never understand that whole "I'm bored" business. I literally can't remember any of my kids ever saying those words. As long as there is TV and a reasonable supply of video games, my kids would never dream of being bored. And even if they are, why the heck would they tell me about it? I'd probably just come up with some chores for them to do. Even when they were little, I never felt like I needed to "entertain" them.

On the other hand, electronic entertainment time was much more limited this year. We did some math and writing tutoring for Blake this year, so he had to do several pages of "homework" every day, along with 30 minutes or so of reading, which he usually managed to drag out for about half the day, so by the time he did a basic chore or too, he was lucky to get an hour or two of time to indulge himself. Just between you and me, that was just FINE, I hate damn video games anyway!

Then we had scout campouts (several), church camp, a couple of mini vacations, and a whole lot of playdates and swimming - we had a membership to a rec center for the first time, so that was nice. One way or another it was a darn busy summer!

So now, we've got to figure out how to get back in the swing for the school year. As usual we started off with a bang last year, but by the end of the year, the wheels pretty much fell off!

I browsed a few websites for ideas, but it's all kind of the same old stuff:

Launch pad - yup, we pretty well got this from Flylady years ago. Blake has his "dog butts" to hang his backpack and stuff on. I think you really need a visual on this one.



Aren't they a scream? They're from Ikea and I think they're really for hanging leashes on, but they work great for backpacks too.

Organization Station - Check! We've got this all set up from last year. There are folders for things to sign, completed homework, fundraisers and other flyers, and a spot for lunch money. Lunch calendars and band schedules are taped up on the insides of the kitchen cabinets (I love that idea, saves a lot of clutter on the fridge).

Lunch Station - No, not so much. Blake does make his own lunch 3 days a week, but honestly, it's not that hard to roam around the kitchen and put together a PB&J, some cookies, and a go-gurt. Although now he's got the late lunch, so he may need to pack a snack too so he doesn't starve to death by 1:00.

Point System - I'm struggling with this one. Reward systems work really well for ADHD kids like Blake, but you have to keep them fresh to hold their interest. Last year, I put together a fabulous daily list of things for him to do with added incentives of electronic entertainment and cash (allowance really - $1 a day if he completed his list), but about halfway through the year that one just kind of died and I haven't been able to get him back into it. The problem is that it has to be simple, easily sustainable (for me!), and something that gives him the responsibility for doing the chores, homework, personal hygiene stuff, etc. 'cuz by the time I get home from work at 6:00, I'm lucky if I can remember my OWN name and get my own list of stuff done!

So feel free to submit any ideas you've got for back to school (shudder) organization, or just motivating kids in general. Hey, us Mom's have to stick together!



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