It's that time of year again. Back to school. Some Moms are thrilled. Some Moms unsure. Some are just in a state of shock over the hit the wallet takes. One thing consistent about it all: there are moans from kids heard around the country that their summer is ending. But the Moms? Ahhhh, the Moms have other ideas.

Personally, I always get a bit freaked out as if it was my first day of school when they start up. But that probably has more to do with the fact that they have not yet instituted a "start at noon" school day with our public school system. Now that would rock my socks off! Alas, my cries to let my kids (and when I say my kids, I of course mean me) sleep in late and then go to school.

Mir of Woulda Coulda Shoulda thoroughly enjoyed her first day at home alone. (Really? Who could blame her?)

For the first time in about seven weeks, I am sitting at my desk in broad daylight with nothing but the droning of the fan behind me as background noise. I have a million things to do, of course, but I have a solid six hours before I have to talk to anyone else, get anyone something to eat, settle a squabble, or decide whether or not we can go swimming now.

First day of school, baby. How do I love the public school system? Let me count the ways. No; scratch that. That would take up precious minutes that I could spend eating cookies because there’s no one here to see me.

Now, after reading and being reminded that I will in fact be able to work without hearing children ask for one more minute, or one more meal or having to referee one more argument, the school days starting seems a little less stressful. I do like Mir's way of thinking.

She is not alone if her bliss at being alone at home again. Though, in a less subdued way, Jenny of Three Kid Circus tries her best to restrain from her inner desire to break out into her personal rendition of The Riverdance.

After the bickering and sibling torture of the last two weeks, let's just say that instead of Riverdance this year, I'm going to race home and start digging a moat so they can't get in without swearing allegiance to the Queen (Hello! That's me!) and promising to uphold the Laws of The Queendom.

Whoops, a little Riverdance just slipped out. I looked like Snoopy from Peanuts doing the happy dance.

But it is not just about the joy of finding new freedom for those of us who work at home full or even part time. There is the actual school issues to consider. Take the Moms who have been doing this for years. And years. And years. The first day of school comes and suddenly some of us find ourselves standing on a totally different part of the School Mom Spectrum. The "experienced" Moms.

Take Busy Mom for example. She recently wrote about this very thing. (I thought perhaps it was my blog, but then remembered my kids had not started school so I can only pretend to claim her words silently.)

Furthermore, my peers and I have turned into the grizzled, cynical "parents of you know, the older kids" that we used to make fun of.

When Busy Girl first started kindergarten, I would look around at the other parents wondering what I was doing there will all those...adults.

They all wore that tired, bored, "been there, done that" look that I couldn't understand because, well, how could they do that when there was so much educational adventure in store for our kids?!

Besides, weren't they too old to be there? Those old folks needed to step down, and, take their attitude with them. We were there, now.

Yes, I admit it. I am one of those old folks who needed to step down, and take my attitude with me. You really should read the whole entry. Because? Totally me, too. (Getting out of the car at pick-up? Whatever for? My kids know where the car will be and they recognize it. No need to get out of the air conditioned vehicle with a radio in it!)

We cannot forget the price of school supplies. Ouch! Sherry Osbourse of Inside Motherhood writes:

Our school fees are $230. Most of that is supervision fees for lunchroom monitors and outdoor monitors at recess and lunch time. Only $60 of that is to cover supplies. Still, even though our supplies are covered with only $60 the only things we have to buy for her ourselves are a box of large ziploc bags, a box of tissues, a small towel for rest time, and a long-sleeve oversized t-shirt to use as an art smock...
Meanwhile, a friend of mine has one child heading in to grade two and one starting kindergarten this year. She’s already spent over $300 on school supplies, mostly for the older ones. They’re also homeowners and pay school taxes so they’re paying way more than we are.

When I went to the back to school schedule pick-up at the Middle School, I pretty much just handed over my check book and told them to go to town. I mean, they were going to get the money one way or another. I might as well make it easier on all of us. (Grand total for the day: $375. Tomorrow, it will add in about another $75. And we still have not hit the Elementary School.) Now I understand what they mean my by the back to school blues. It should be back to school in the red because, baby, we are forking over the money. And have yet to do back to school clothes shopping. Ugh!

White Trash Mom is taking it all in stride. If not a bit over eagerly.

So, school wasn't officially in session yet. I dropped mine off anyway. They could play on the playground, right? I mean, how much trouble could they get into? BFD! They're big girls. They don't even go out for recess anymore...They have cell phones, for Pete's sake!

(Oh, and for the record, she did not actually drop them off. But fantasyland is a fun place to go and play when you are in need of a sanity break.)

Like many working moms, though she loves her kids and summer, but the end of it she is tired, ragged and ready to slow down with organizing schedules while she works.

Don't get me wrong. I love my daughters with all my heart. And I really do love summer, too. But by the end of it, I am ragged. And this summer, with having gone back to work and having to juggle their activities with no nanny at home for them like we had when I was working in the past? Well, let's just say that it's been a rough summer.

And there lies the issue so many of us face. I work at home full time and it has been rough to work and play social director to three kids for three months. And the Moms who work outside the home have the additional worry about where their kids will be while they are at work.

School starting may make many (if not all) children moan. However, if I were a betting woman, I would bet there will be a tremendous collective sigh heard 'round the world from the Moms who have had summertime wear them out.

What about you? Have your kids started school? Are you ready? How do you feel about school starting?

~Jenn if off to claim her seat at the local Starbucks before school starts. Just in case.~

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You can also find my writing at Mommy Needs Coffee and Mommybloggers.