Anyone who doubts the nightmare these last few weeks of school are for parents need only to consult their last nightmare of the nocturnal variety.

I think it is a definite sign of something significant that at my advanced age and corresponding number of years out of school, that I’m still having dreams of forgetting to show up for a final exam or having to repeat middle school because I’ve missed some rogue pre-requisite null and voiding every life experience thereafter.

I think these nightmares intensify during these waning weeks of our children’s school because we as parents are more or less responsible for making sure our kids don’t live out these horrific scenarios in real life. This particular stress factor must be so ingrained in our subconscious that it doesn’t manifest itself until we’re the ones doing the actual scheduling, procuring of supplies, and signing of the report cards.

Depending on the age of your student, there are last-minute projects and book reports. There are final exams. There are banquets, plays, dances and meetings. With this flurry of academic (and not) activity, something is bound to get lost in the shuffle.

I’ve already misplaced the outline to the final book report due. I’ve been shopping at 10 p.m. on a Sunday for a tri-board for the last social studies project. I’ve turned in a permission slip to a field trip that was already cancelled from the Swine flu pandemic that panned.

And there is still another three weeks to go.

At this rate, by that last Monday I won’t be surprised if they really do show up to class in just their underwear simply because I’ve forgotten to laundry.

It makes me wonder who is really dreaming (or trying to anyway) of summer vacation more--them or me?

Either way, please someone wake me when it’s over...

© 2009 Tracey Henry

Divamail me!