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5 reasons to be cheerful about the new school year

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Oh, happy day!
Oh, happy day!

The beginning of the school year strikes fear into the heart of any parent. It brings school traffic and lost blazers. It means no more leisurely lie-ins. And it adds a steady drip of parental guilt each time your child turns to you and says those dreaded words: “But I gave the notice to you last week.”

In addition, having blown the budget on a Christmas you really couldn’t afford, you’re now doing inventive things with rice for every meal, while simultaneously facing down a stationery list that could equip a small university. Exactly how many pencils does one child need? Can’t we just get him one to start with and go from there? 


What are some of the things you find positive about the start of the new school year? Send us your comments and we could publish them. Do let us know if you'd like to remain anonymous. 

And to make matters even more terrifying, a few days before the holidays end, your child reminds you that he’d grown out of his school shoes in October last year, and that you were “waiting for next year” to buy a new pair. 

Next year is here, and it’s being awfully demanding.

It’s a new year, though, and I’m determined to be positive. In that spirit, and despite all evidence to the contrary, I’m digging deep to find the positives in the start of the school year.


Also see: 7 ways the world is becoming a better place for our children


Here are my 5 reasons to celebrate it:

1. Go back to bed

Did you have the forethought to time your leave so that you’re left with a few days between the start of the term and your return to work? If so, teach us your ways – you’re #winningatparenting. You get to shove your darlings out of bed at the crack of dawn, race them off to school, being careful to slow down ever so slightly as you drop them off, then wave them a cheery goodbye while turning your car right back around in the direction of your bed. Hurrah for school!

2. Spend less

There’s nothing like the holidays to put your bank account on life support. The movies now cost the equivalent of a weekly grocery shop, and even a trip to the beach results in money spent on fast food… because hungry children. A great reason to celebrate the new school term is that fast food becomes a thing of the past and your bank account gets to spend some time recuperating. School lunches will henceforth be marmite sarmies and marie biscuits, with an apple thrown in to show you care about nutrition.

3. Enjoy the silence

How we love fighting our way through traffic during the school term… said no parent, ever. Want to hear the good news? Being stuck in traffic in silence is a lot more fun than listening to holidaying teenagers fighting over the Bluetooth, or toddlers wailing that they’re bored. The school term means you get to drop the kids off, roll up the windows, lock the doors, and enjoy an hour or more alone on the way to work. See? Silver linings everywhere you look.


Also see: PRINT IT: A monthly calendar to help you organise your family's 2019


4. Ditch the guilt

If, like me, you were briefly concerned that your teenaged son was welded to the couch and that his legs would atrophy from all the screen time he was having these holidays, the school term is here to rescue you. For at least 6 hours a day, you can rest assured that he won’t be staring at his phone. 

5. Outsource parenting

It’s not that you’ve been stalking them, but you’ve noticed that your son’s friend’s parents are back online after their camping trip. Which means they’re back at home. Which means they’re available for play dates again and you get a break from endless reprisals of YouTube videos he just has to share with you. 

Thank you, school term. I missed you.

Chat back

What are some of the things you find positive about the start of the new school year? Send us your comments and we could publish them. Do let us know if you'd like to remain anonymous. 

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