And breathe...

I was nervous for RV going back to school.  He loves school, has LOTS of friends, has loved his last two teachers but still I was nervous.  He's had such a lovely summer holiday, we've been home birds and he's made so many new friends with the children of the area.  Its the first summer he's been allowed to roam our area, chill on his bike and kick the footy around out front.  He 'ok' when we dropped him off, looked like a really miserable, sad boy when we dropped his lunch in to him and came home saying he had the best time! Phew. 

Its a short week, just the 2days, a nice easy start to settle back into routines.

Loopys year group don't start back to school until next week so a bit more time to adjust to the new routine of having her home with us in the morning.  She asks when do we start learning, not realising that she's learning every day, today we went through the seasons.  She's noticed the chill in the air, the changing light, the conkers and plants all dying.  We talked about what season we're in and what season is next. 
Learning but at her pace....I hope this is how it should be done?

Fonzy will take a bit to adjust to the new routine, I think that it will follow straight after the summer holidays will help.  They bicker when together.  Each vying for my attention, each wanting to spend 'me' time.  Luckily Fonzy has a nap in the day, this will be Loopy & I's 1on1 time, where we can really do our work & have a chat about what we're looking at.  Finding time for Fonzy & I will be harder but Loopy enjoys a bit of 'quiet time' and we will have to focus on this I think.

I want to be free flowing, more organic, but Im a creature of habits as are the children. 
Routines work for us.  School runs especially the morning ones are run with precision to ensure everyone gets to where they need to be on time, housework needs squeezing in, laundry is a constant - give it an inch and it runs away with you, lunch & its tidying up are next, we have free time after lunch then the next round of school runs.  After the next school run is homework, dinner, bed and the evening tidy up.  This is without any curve balls being thrown, only just enough hours in the day to get it all done.  I cant imagine how far behind it will all fall if I dont stick to the routine. 
Perhaps it wont be as bad as I think - but then again perhaps it would be worse!?

H also went back to school - and came home smiling!  Bonus!!  He's in his last year, a bright lad who gets bored quickly in class, under performs yet still manages to hit the targets they set.  We'll see how he gets on through the year, the proof of the pudding will be in his results (GCSE's)

Lolly & Abba return next week, then we really are back into our new routine.

Routine offers comfort to us, security in that we know what to expect and when.  With routine & habits we can cope with curve balls, everyone knows where they are and anyone called to step in to help knows what needs to be done.