Back to School -- Really?

August brings back to school among final summer wrap ups. I find myself trying to finish the "to do's" if you will.  We still need to hit Carowinds, the Columbia Zoo, Discovery Place Kids (again) and more pool time is a MUST!  School shopping is done and new lunch boxes are ready and waiting on the dining room table.

I need to figure out some "HEALTHIER LUNCH OPTIONS THAT WILL BE CONSUMED" and feel that I need to make sure my kindergartners can recite the alphabet backwards -- not really but I feel like we are behind. While I know we are not I still feel that way. I wonder if I have done a disservice by letting them be True Kids this summer and play over reviewing as much as we should have.  My "LETTER OF THE DAY" concept was a good one but it remained just that-- a concept.  Part of me just wanted them to be free if you will as I think this is indeed the LAST FREE SUMMER.  With Luke turning 6 in October and both of them starting Kindergarten on August 27th where has time gone?  I feel like our freedom is almost gone. Gone are the days of vacationing "whenever you want".  Gone for sure are the summers that "reviewing and keeping the mind fresh with new knowledge" is not a must.  I know we should have been better with the reviewing this summer but we had fun. We played games that reviewed numbers and letters and we picked out letters and numbers while traveling.  We read books and laughed and giggled.  It wasn't enough though. 

I am nervous about school. I am nervous for Luke  and Maran. I remember how hard life was as a young kid at times. I am scared that they will be teased and chastised.  Their mommy and daddy don't look like them and they are siblings and they don't look alike --with the exception that they are absolutely adorably cute.  I don't want them to feel hurt by others and on the same note embarrassed. I am fearful of the bullies.  As a bullied person (something I never talk about) I will do all in my power to ensure my children and others will not have to endure being bullied.  For now I have to wait and see how they handle situations and tell them every day what I was told "BE SWEET KIND & LOVING" ---  as well to be "NICE TO EVERYONE".  While that is often easier said than done it will continue to be instilled in my children as it was in me.  For now mommy needs to be a big girl and stop worrying.  Let them be what they are and let them grow and learn with us finding the right amount of "pushing".