I’m beginning to feel like every school year is a new milestone for us. The end of every school is the end of another era.

Today marks the end of Kindergarten for Logan and Third grade for Cameron and if I’m being honest it makes me a little sad. The babies are long gone and the big kids are here. The school bus riding, full day going, no nap taking big boys.

Just yesterday I was talking with a friend about just how fast the time goes. When Cameron was a baby and people would say things like, “enjoy it now because the time goes by so quickly.” I thought they were crazy. Nine years later I’m sitting here at the end of yet another school year wondering where the hell the time has gone?

If the years continue to go this fast they boys will be going off to college in the blink of an eye. Last summer sucked with me being hurt and basically stuck on the couch all summer so I think the boys earned a great summer. Since my years with these little creatures are numbered, I hope to give them an awesome summer this year.

Last school morning for a while.

They have four weeks of camp to look forward to, many trips to Maryland, and day trips galore coming their way. My hope is that when they start first and fourth grade in a few short months that they’ll have some great stories to tell their friends.

Those tears I’m sure to shed as they step off the bus for the final time this school year aren’t just because many of my summer days will be spent breaking up fights, they’re also because the time is just going by way too fast. We had a great year and I’m going to miss the teachers as well as the structure.

Have your kids started their summer yet?

Or so it would seem.

I know there will come a time when my kids will be embarrassed to go out in public with me. Right now, I’m embarrassed to go out in public with them (sometimes).

They used to listen to me and come when I call them. Boy do I miss those days.

Now one will throw a temper tantrum and the other is just plain defiant. I have become THAT mother, the one who has difficulty controlling her children in public. It makes me wonder what people must be thinking when they see Hurricanes Cameron and Logan come rolling through. Yes, I care what people think of my ability to parent.

There they go corrupting another youngster.

I get it, they’re kids and should be having fun BUT there is a time and place for that and sometimes we need good boy behavior. There’s only so much shrugging and saying, “boys will be boys” I can do.

Yes, he WAS trying to push his brother off his animal.

It’s not just the embarrassment of being their mother that I worry about, they could get hurt pulling the stunts they pull. Sure, trying to cut each other off while walking down the sidewalk is great until someone falls off the curb and into traffic.

Over the past couple weeks I’ve noticed a serious change in their behavior, they’re just a little more naughty than usual. I’m hoping that it has to do with it being summertime and that they’ll snap out of it once we’re back in a routine of school. OK, it’s a little more than hoping…I’m praying.

Don’t get me wrong, they’re good kids; smart, funny, really the whole package but man can they act out when they want to. We’ve had a great summer and have gotten out and done a lot of fun things but I think they’re ready for a little more structure and routine in their days.

Are your kids ready to go back to school? Are YOU ready for them to go?