An Ode to the End of Winter Break

You know that office-supply company commercial that airs over the Summer with "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" blaring as parents get their kids ready for the coming school year? That's how I feel today. After two weeks at home during my kids' Winter break, today couldn't come fast enough. Our "staycation" sounded great on paper — playing tourists in our hometown, catching up on our DVR, cleaning out and organizing for the New Year — but Mom's idea of a productive Winter break at home versus the kids' idea of a good time are two very different things.

As we were packing the kids' backpacks last night, a song popped into my head. Seeing as no one (I mean NO ONE) would want me to sing one of those mom parody videos, I thought I'd write it out for you to sing in your own The Voice-worthy vocals from the privacy of your own home. Give it a whirl. It's refreshing, I promise!

"An Ode to the End of Winter Break"
(Sung to the tune of "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music.)

"Ice skating, Netflix, late bedtimes, and candy,
Movies, the Globetrotters, and Xbox at the ready,
Holiday presents strewn all over the home,
That's Winter break when you don't want to roam.

"Grandparent visits and sugar all around,
Pizza from every pizzeria in town,
Too many lazy pajama days to count,
A pile of returns you could easily mount.

"Bickering, wrestling, complaining 'bout everything,
So much together time we forgot the true meaning
Of spending the holidays with family and friends,
But today is the day when it all really ends.

"Back to school, they will go,
Trudging all the way,
But Mom's really smiling 'cause she knows
That things are about to be OK.

"House back in order, kids in bed on time,
Homework and schedules keep everyone in line,
Vacations are great, but moms really know
The school year is what makes our lives really flow.

"Heading to work almost feels like a vacation,
No kids to pinpoint my exact location,
Bathroom visits I can make alone,
Can't do that when the kids are home.

"Teachers, I hope you enjoyed your break.
I have a new appreciation for the effort you make
To keep kids engaged and busy each day.
Two weeks off was way too long, I say.

"Back to school, they will go,
Trudging all the way.
But Mom's really smiling 'cause she knows
That things are about to be OK."

Wishing you a wonderful post-Winter-break back-to-school day!