Twas the night before school starts,
When all through the house,
Not a kid was whining or begging for a snack.
It's time to resume schedules: bedtime was back.
The backpacks were hung on their hooks by the door.
We all know this is the only night they’re not spread on the floor.
Children were sleeping while the sun is still out.
With visions of recess swirling about.
Mama with her wine glass and Dad with his bourbon,
Just settling down to binge watch “Jane the Virgin”.
When feelings of guilt start to creep in,
Should we be this giddy that school starts tomorrow?
Pretending the end of summer is, oh, such a burden!
With siblings fighting, screen time overload, and battles for showers,
Who wouldn’t want another couple of hundred hours?
With grocery store visits accompanied by beggars,
Trying hard not to be the mom who is craggier.
Finding contraband bags of Cheetos in the cart;
And every conversation punctuated with a fart.
Living this dream we call summer...
I won’t even think the early alarm is a bummer.
It hits you like a ton of red schoolhouse bricks:
Freedom starts tomorrow – you do some high kicks.
You feel a cool breeze, there’s a pep in your step --
The unmistakable sensation of days soaked in ease.
The chores of the school year, despite being near
Are nothing compared to a kazoo in your ear:
Now! Snack Duty, Carpool, Lunchboxes, and Meetings;
On! Uniforms, On! Practice, On! Lost Shoes, and Required Reading.
From the middle of August through the last day of May!
All the parents complaining, “Why are things always this way?”
Hardly remembering the trudge of the year’s hottest months.
Forgetting the bickering and pool towels on the floor.
Kids not remembering the reminders before:
To pick up after yourself is a fairly simple chore.
Now the ungrateful boredom will come to an end.
On busses and sidewalks, our kids we will send
To shiny new classrooms filled with delight.
Hoping they’ll be worn out enough to sleep well at night.
Camp schedules replaced by a million activities.
Someone else, my apologies, dealing with proclivities.
For the asking of questions and the sometimes sassy
Hoping the kids get a (metaphorical) kick in the assy.
Some kids skipping down the hallway.
Some moping all day.
Regardless school's starting --
Tomorrow’s the day!
Whether high school or sixth grade or tiny kindergarten,
We will meet our new teacher; there'll be newness and fear.
Despite this, happy parents (like me) beg your pardon
Because empty backseats and peaceful shopping are near.
So decorate your chalkboards and charge up your cameras.
These moments are fleeting, there aren’t many beginnings.
About thirteen or fourteen if we play our cards right.
Because you know come college, they’ve all taken flight.
I’m choosing joy and elation instead of deep sorrow.
But I understand the sadness of school starting tomorrow.
Summer is over; we all made it through.
Now get to bed early because, in the morning, there's lots to do.
All this chaos, will I miss it? (Maybe) No way!
Am I tired of the school year? Ask me in May.
Obviously inspired by the classic “The Night Before Christmas” with apologies to real poets. Also inspired by my daughter who starts second grade tomorrow, but insisted on reading “The Night Before First Grade” before bed.
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