Back-to-School Means Back to Getting Stuff Accomplished

On a typical summer weekday I accomplish a good deal ... for the kids.

But as far as taking care of the house, meeting professional obligations and looking after my own health and hygiene? Not so much.

I loved being home with the kids all summer. After having a baby on April 30, it seemed the perfect timing to accept limited projects --  I work part-time from home -- and forego day camps for my two oldest so we could all hang out. The kids reveled in playdates, swim team, vacations, day trips and, simply, being together.

Awww. Touching, right?

We were sooo ready for school to start this week! 

The summer of slack and snuggles was sweet, but the children craved the structure and excitement of school. I am personally drowning in half-finished projects -- with a "to-do" list that fills a whopping three pages. Maintenance on the household, and on my own body, are in drastic need. The car needs oil, my body-fat is up 25 percent; and Baby Alice needs vaccinations plus more stroller, and less car-seat, time.

Now that school's started, I am FLOORED by how much work a work-from-home mama with a four-month-old baby can get done without two boisterous elementary school kids around!

Although the first day of school was a half-day, I was able to:

• Make the kids breakfast, get them ready, do the annual first-day-of-school photo shoot and drop them off at school (complete with first-day-of-kindergarten introductions for Eve).
• Get that oil changed before the car exploded.
• Shred out a workout with a Jillian Michaels DVD.
• Catch up with my father on the phone.
• Breastfeed the baby 400 times. 
• Put the baby down for a nap.
• Shower and fake looking decent.
• Answer e-mail and texts.
• Participate in social media (aka mess around on Facebook and Twitter)
• Clean the kitchen.
• Do two loads of laundry.
• Change the sheets on three beds.
• Write this column. 

All this? Done before leaving the house to pick up the kids at 12:15pm.

I hate to admit it, but on a typical summer day, you may have found all of us still in our PJs at lunchtime.

So while I understand the sadness some feel while bidding summer good-bye, I have to admit that, this year, I am not feeling it. For me personally, back-to-school means back to sanity.

Jessica McFadden and her children are celebrating back to school this week at A Parent in Silver Spring, her blog for local families.