There are approximately 5 weeks left of the school year. I have 5 more weeks with a 5th, 2nd, and 1st grader. I’m not sure who is more enthusiastic in their countdown…my tween who is about to leave elementary school behind for the big leagues of middle school…or me.

5 more weeks.

I say that over and over in my mind ‘Little Engine That Could’ style.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…

Given the ages of my kids, this is not my first go-round with the end-of-school-year crazies, but man alive, as they get older, it seems to get even more insane. Between today and the last day of school, my to-do list looks something like this, in no particular order:

• Chaperone 2nd grade field trip
• Chaperone 5th grade end-of-year celebration picnic
• 5th grade dance (he’s still deciding if he wants me to chaperone that one…)
• 5th grade performance
• Orchestra/Band concert
• Middle School Open House
• Middle School Registration
• Plan and host kid party and family party for my soon-to-be 11 year old (he really could have been more thoughtful when he chose his birth day).
• Spirit Days requiring special clothes and/or hair
• End of the year sports team celebration
• Plan/prep for a Memorial Day camping trip
• Ensure children are registered for their various summer camps (including completing the 73840937 forms each requires). Also, I’m broke.
• Find babysitters for the weeks camp is not being offered (W.T.F)
• Many, many, soccer games
• Keep the house standing, make sure everyone has clothes to wear and food to eat (nutrition optional)

Oh, and I also work. 3 out of town trips, 1 large presentation, and a whole lot of the daily grind. It’s my busy season because judges like to clear their dockets before peak golf season. Convenient.

As I’m thinking about all of this, I’m reminded of Abby’s account of Climbing the Bedtime Mountain, in which she aptly points out that the real torture of bed time is the fact that it’s a job that comes at the end of the day when we are already exhausted, but requires “morning mom” energy.

This end of school nonsense really requires “beginning of the school year” energy. Remember when I picked out clothes the night before, packed lunches with little notes, and cooked actual dinners to be eaten at the actual dinner table?? Yeah, me neither. These days I’m patting myself on the back if I remember to fill their school lunch accounts before they start getting notes home and are stuck with cheese sandwiches for lunch.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…

While my mind is swirling with deadlines and to-do’s I also can’t help but recognize that there is something very special about this time of year with school-age children. It feels like a major turning point because it is. A capstone to a year filled with growth and discovery. My children are no longer who they were in September and that deserves some celebration (apparently a lot of celebration…).  So I’m going to go ahead and consider this a pep talk to myself and offer the same to all of you other mamas with me in this boat.  We can, and we will!

(Is it summer yet?)