Hold on tight....we're in for a bumpy ride!

I hear little footsteps outside the bathroom door.

"Mom!  Where are you?"

"I'm in the bathroom."

"What are you doing?"

"What do YOU usually do in the bathroom?"

To be completely truthful, I was really sort of hiding out in the locked bathroom looking at Facebook on my phone.  They must wonder if I have a stomach bug sometimes, but they don't need to know ALL of my secrets right?

It's not as if I'm just avoiding them, really.  I'm also avoiding the Disney Channel and iCarly and the fact that they like to play with the DVR and make the characters say the same lines over and over.  And the arguments. 

Okay, so maybe I really am avoiding them!  But, that's all about to change because...

SCHOOL STARTS NEXT WEEK!!!

I know, right?  My youngest child will be starting kindergarten and this is a whole new chapter of life for me.  (I jokingly like to refer to this time as the 'BonBon years,' but most of us know better than that.)  Life is sure to become both easier and harder for me.  I think.

Honestly, I'm not sure exactly what to expect.  I'm sure my delusions of getting more done will be shattered quickly.  Grocery shopping and trips to the gym will be more peaceful and efficient.  The five-six hours that they are in school will be quieter.  (Maybe)  But, I will now have two classrooms to volunteer in (and no excuse of a small one to care for to get me out of it!) and TWO girls to help with their homework.  8YO has been pretty 'homework-resistant' in the past.  I have no idea how 5YO will be with the whole idea of homework, but kindergarteners usually need a lot of help regardless.  5YO usually races through worksheets with minimal problems, but I'm not going to count my chickens before they're hatched and think it will be easy.  She could decide to follow in her sister's footsteps and fight me every step of the way! 

15YO will be starting her sophomore year as well.  She needs no real help with her homework (though she does like to be quizzed quite a bit on an upcoming test!) but her need for a taxi driver is ever-increasing.  She is getting more and more of a real life and has places to go, ya know!  (BOY do I ever know it!)  Between cheer practice and football games and her AP class and friends and church and...I'm really not sure how it's all actually going to happen!

I guess it's a good thing that I love a good roller coaster.

I guess I can either choose to brace myself in fear, stick to the kiddie rides, or throw my arms in the air and enjoy the ride.  However I handle this, there's sure to be some screaming.  :-)