Hey, hey Monday!
Okay, if you missed my post on Saturday, we had our monthly BOOK CLUB! Make sure you check out that post if you read August’s book (and to see what we’ll be reading in September!).
I’m kicking off our week today with another edition of TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE!
As much as I really like this BACK TO SCHOOL SEASON, there are some things that are not my fave. Needless to say, I’ve got my TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE below 🙂 .
I cannot wait to read about your thoughts on heading back to school!
Okay, let’s do it…
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: BACK TO SCHOOL!
#5: QUIET TIME AT HOME
I love, love, love having my kids at home with me. If I could keep them at home with me all day, every day, I would. I also love quiet. I love cleaning up the kitchen after breakfast and no one going back in there until after 3:00. I like to be on the phone with my clients and not have a human standing next to me so that when I get off the phone they can ask me a question like “where are the bananas?”. (They are where they’ve been for the last 11 years that we’ve lived here. I’m not hiding them.) I like the quiet. A lot.
#4: FOOTBALL SEASON
I love everything about it. I love listening to my favorite sports radio station talking about it. I love watching it on TV. I love my son playing football and my oldest daughter cheering at games. I love pep rallies. I love sitting in the stands on hot days and freezing cold days. I love the comradery of the parents at the games. I love staying up late and getting home late and that good kind of tired that comes from too much cheering. I love the entire culture of the game.
#3: MY MEALS HAVE NEVER BEEN BETTER
I am on my A-GAME right now. I am meal planning, grocery shopping, making side dishes and homemade desserts. My table is set each night, and there is a pep in my step as I do it all. We eat dinner together as a family almost every night, but this time of year, they’re elevated dinners. We are all a little extra excited about the fresh new school year, and every time we sit down, there is a positive energy. By May, we’re dragging ourselves to the finish line of the school year, and we’re burned out, exhausted, over homework/schedules/early mornings and frankly, making dinner. But right now? Right now, we’re loving it!
#2: WE HAVE A ROUTINE
Summertime is wonderful because it’s way more relaxed…but you know how much I love me a routine. I love that we have a structured schedule, reasons to go to bed early and get up in the morning. I love the rhythm of the school year very much.
#1: IT KICKS OFF FALL
Where do I even begin?! The beginning of the school year kicks off all the good things. Fall is right around the corner, pumpkins start popping up in stores, summer clothes are put away and transitional clothes make their appearance, the hot weather starts to break, and you know the holiday season is right around the corner. The back to school season is the gateway to the best time of the year.
There are so so many things to love about this time of year! That being said, there are a few things though that I don’t particularly love…
Here are my…
#5: OUR SCHEDULE IS SO FULL
Okay, yeah…it’s basically a good and a bad thing about this season. I love the routine, and the activities…but geez, I also don’t love how full they make our schedules. From morning until night, we have things to do. It’s not just “school” things, but it’s extracurricular things, orthodontist appointments, running out to get supplies/new sneakers/more groceries, I’m taking this kid here and that kid there and wow, it’s time to go to bed and then do it all over again tomorrow. It’s just a FULL schedule that we don’t have over the summer season.
#4: HOMEWORK
Ugh, I dislike homework. I don’t like all the emails about it, I don’t like nagging my kids about it, I don’t like trying to help them (it’s way above my pay grade at this point), I don’t like homework at all. Homework is just one more thing to “handle”, and I don’t enjoy it.
#3: MAKING SCHOOL LUNCHES BEATS ME DOWN
Beats. Me. Down. My kids are old enough now that I don’t have to make their lunches (they can all really make their own), but I do have to buy the proper ingredients. Let’s be honest though, I don’t mind helping them because they’re super busy. It’s a team effort. A team effort that wanes as the year progresses. We start off strong…and end very very weak.
#2: WE WAKE UP TOO EARLY
Thanks to the super hot Texas weather, our athletics kick off bright…erg…dark and early. Nothing like sending your kid out the door at 4:30 AM to make you second guess some of your life choices.
#1: WE DON’T HAVE THE EXTRA FAMILY TIME
I miss alllllllllll that family time we get over the summer on Nantucket. I’m thankful that we have it in the first place, but man, I miss it so very much.
Now…
It wouldn’t be a TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE without Andrew weighing in too.
ANDREW’S TOP FIVE :
#5: HALLOWEEN, THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS WILL SOON BE HERE.
#4: HUNTING SEASON STARTS
#3: FOOTBALL SEASON STARTS
#2: ALL OF THE SHARED FAMILY ACTIVITIES. DINNER AT HOME AS A FAMILY AND ATTENDING ALL THE KIDS’ EVENTS.
#1: WEATHER COOLING OFF
ANDREW’S BOTTOM FIVE :
#5: FLIPPING ALL THE LAUNDRY. THEY HAVE SCHOOL CLOTHES, AT HOME CLOTHES, ATHLETIC CLOTHES. EVEN THOUGH I DON’T PUT IT AWAY, THEY ARE BUSY SO WE TRY TO HELP, BUT THERE IS JUST SO MUCH LAUNDRY.
#4: HOMEWORK. I DON’T HAVE ANY IDEA HOW TO DO IT, SO I CALL MY BROTHER AND DAD BECAUSE THEY ARE SMARTER THAN ME.
#3: I LIKE STAYING OUT LATE AND SLEEPING UNTIL 6:00…SUMMER SCHEDULE IS WAY BETTER.
#2: I MISS NANTUCKET, AND THAT ALWAYS MEANS SUMMER IS OVER.
#1: NOT SEEING MY KIDS ALL DAY LONG.
And those, my friends, are our TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: BACK TO SCHOOL 🙂 .
Now, don’t forget to check out these other TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE blog posts:
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: CONDIMENTS
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: HOLIDAY HOLIDAY THINGS
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: STORE-BOUGHT COOKIES
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: THINGS ABOUT A FAIR/CARNIVAL
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: ICE CREAM FLAVORS
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: SPRING CLEANING
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: TRAVELING BY PLANE
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: SKIING WITH YOUR FAMILY
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: CHRISTMAS MOVIES
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: HALLOWEEN CANDY
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: CEREALS
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: HOUSEHOLD CHORES
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: CHRISTMAS SONGS
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: THANKSGIVING FOODS
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE ROAD TRIP SNACKS
TOP FIVE, BOTTOM FIVE: VEGETABLES
Alrighty, I want to read yours too!! I feel like you guys are going to have A LOT of thoughts and opinions.
Please comment and share!
I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Happy Monday! xx
Jami Romano says
100000% agree with all of your tops & bottoms ◡̈
Erika Slaughter says
Definitely my wake up time would be in the bottom five right now! 🥴😬😩😳
Emilee says
One thing I love about back to school is that I can clean my house, and it stays clean longer than a minute 😂
One thing I hate about school is being out of the house so early. I’m an early riser year round, but there is a difference between being up and being “out” of the house!
Kathy says
I agree with Andrew’s #5- it means all the holidays are near!
Elspeth Mizner says
I love the routine and schedule that school
Provides but i don’t like all the extra commitments it brings too!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
faith says
The comedic gold here was so great to readand i needed that as today is my husband’s return to work post paternity leave; “I like to be on the phone with my clients and not have a human standing next to me so that when I get off the phone they can ask me a question like “where are the bananas?”. (They are where they’ve been for the last 11 years that we’ve lived here. I’m not hiding them.)“
It is just hilarious because it is so true!
Sheaffer Sims says
I sure do miss my late nights and late mornings. Waking up without an alarm during the summer is pure bliss.
Sheaffer says
Also….. the pics of the kids are all so cute!!!!
Amanda says
Hi Shay! I’ve been following you for a while, but I think this is my first comment! This post made my eyes water, such a reminder that no matter where we are in the US (I’m in Va.) or how different our family units look, these transitions summer to fall have the same highs and same lows! Wishing you and your family a great first week of school and a wonderful fall!
Mix and Match Mama says
Well goodness, thank you so much for commenting today. I appreciate your words so very much. xx
K.K. says
FALL is HERE!!! Well, it’s still hot, but I’ll pretend!
Lisa says
Making all the lunches was the worst!! It’s the one thing I do not miss now that all our kids are in college. I miss everything else though, even the early morning drop offs. Treasure the moments, it goes fast!
Misty Caudle says
Enjoy every single minute of the busy life. I just sent my 3rd and final kiddo off to college and I am in mourning. I know that sounds crazy but I feel so lost at times and long for those busy days and nights to come back. Empty nest grief is REAL!!
Nan says
Yes, it is! It’s a whole new phase of life to adjust to. I miss the routine of a school schedule.
Faith says
Yes it is! Thinking of you! I’m so thankful my oldest is back at home for grad school. When my middle got married and moved 7 hours away and then 2 weeks later my youngest went back to college, it was just too quiet!!
Faith says
Top 5:
Cooler weather
Apple season
Closer to family holidays
Back to a routine
Seeing the leaves change colors
Bottom 3:
Quieter house (one back at school and one had the nerve to get married and move out forever! Thank goodness my oldest is back home to go to grad school close by.)
Sunset earlier and earlier
Miss lazy days of summer
Jamie says
My kids are now in their twenties. I miss the excitement of back to school time so much! On the other hand, I do not miss the homework & I never will. Haha!
Faith says
I also don’t miss that or the car rider lines!
Mix and Match Mama says
This is a good one! I could have included that one too!
Jillian Kathleen Vansickle says
shay and andrew, I know the feeling about laundry! everyday I’m doing it, been doing it since I was ten. also, love the kids back to school outfits! where do you shop for k’s clothes?
Heather S says
Is this our first non controversial top five/bottom five? I think we can all agree (or at least not object) to all of these answers!!
Karah Stracener says
I agree with all of the above. I dread homework and I am no help to my kiddos. I love routine and the busyness of the season but miss all the extra family time. It was a little cooler this morning in East Texas. I know Fall is finally on the way.
Allison says
I love that Andrew’s lists are in all caps. It cracks me up! Top 5 are routines, FALL, PUMPKINS, the scents, and the break in the heat for sure! Controversy! My bottom 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 is football season so we are opposites in that regard, lol! I used to LOVE football season. Now that I’m old (41) and cranky, it just bugs me. The over the top raging hyped up excitement, talking about hypothetical scenarios on Game Day for 75 hours, rushing the field, tearing down goal posts. It is so beyond over the top insanity, I no longer understand. It’s just a game. Your team scored? Cool! Your team lost? Does it really matter? No. If we could all just take it down a notch, it might be more bearable. Sincerely, Your Super Fun Blog Reader
Mix and Match Mama says
Your perspective is just as valid!
Karen in VA says
Omg…Allison. This was hysterical. Loved your perspective. Totally true, but I just started enjoying football season because it takes my mind off other things that I don’t want to deal with! Ha!
Beth Valenta says
Top 5: making special lunches for myself (I am a School Counselor), Seeing the children at school, wearing new teacher outfits vs. gym clothes, pumpkins and the upcoming holiday events, football games
Bottom 5: early mornings, catching every cold and germ at school, paperwork and emails, making time for it all…when do I walk when I get home from school and cook dinner? I run out of time, Errands…why do I have so many?
Mix and Match Mama says
I love your perspective, Beth!! Thank YOU for sharing! xx
sandi says
Great list and I agree on every point! An addition to the bottom five is saying goodbye to kids in the dorm parking lot during college drop off. With only one in high school the schedule is a little more relaxed. Last year I went to a few volleyball games (even though I didn’t have a player on the team) simply because I missed watching the sport. To your top five list I would add fall cleaning. After a summer of everyone home, tracking in sand, kitchen items being put away in different spots (not that they don’t know where stuff goes, but they would like the dishwasher chore taken away so they randomly misplace things) it’s nice to do a fall house reset. Instead of spring cleaning, I’ve always done my deep cleaning in the fall.
It seems like most everyone is on board with your lists!
Stacey says
Thanks Shay! Love these Posts!
TOP 5
1. School-I love all The school things. new pencils and pens, clean binders, routine.
2. Cooler mornings-even in the south it’s a little cooler!
3. Change of routine form summer-I’m always ready for It, even if sad as summer always EVAPORTATES!
4. Football-just fun to watch, cheer
5. Quiet house
BOTTOM 5
5. Football-love/hate for the time, emotion and crazy of It all!
4. Packing lunches-I’m a teacher and a mom…it’s just so many lunches for so many years!
3. Early packed mornings-I miss coffee in my porch before everyone is awake
2. The ‘what am i forgetting’ feeling because it’s busy!
1. The room in the day to be spontaneous!
Erin says
School lunches really suck the life out of everyone. Ugh!!!!
Sunset at 4:30 pm after the time change is literally like the end of days. Soul crushing after summertime golden hours. Just no!!!
Kristy Moore says
Tomorrow is my final day of summer break for this teacher (insert crying emoji here) and the one thing I absolutely hate about heading back to school is making those dang lunches every single day! I agree with others taht this has to be the least controversial top five/bottom five ever!
Mix and Match Mama says
Sending you so much love as you head back! I hope it’s a WONDERFUL year!!