Back to school.   Three little words that make some kids cringe and others dance for joy.   The same can be said for parents.

When my children were little - I'm talking kindergarten, grade 1 - they were still excited about the prospect of school and being with their friends.  In later years, though, the thrill wore off and school became a bit of a chore.    

I wasn't keen on sending my kids off to school, either.  I enjoyed having my kids at home, summer holidays or not.  We always managed to do a lot in the day when my kids were home.   We were busy, but we ran to our own schedule and if we didn't feel like doing something today, we didn't.  After all, there was always tomorrow.  

I still have wonderful memories of trips to the Thompson Public Library in the morning and the afternoon spent on the couch, taking turns reading the books my kids had chosen for us.   Or we'd head out to Paint Lake for an afternoon in the water.   Or their friends would pop by to play in the toy room (aka the basement) on a drizzly afternoon.    And somewhere along the way we'd manage to back some cookies or muffins.  Hey, you've got to keep your energy up somehow, right?     

There were no lessons, no schedules, no place we HAD to be.   That's what summer was - and should be - all about.   FREEDOM!  

So, if your students aren't really keen on heading back to the classroom in September, can you honestly blame them?   I know I can't.