<p>Seeing the threads about “ending points” that make parents nostalgic (last soccer game, last high school musical") also makes me think about the things we are happy to be “done” with in this grand developmental progression. How about we start an add-to list for things we are happy we will never have to do again. Here are my nominees:</p>
<p>Teach a teenager to drive
Tear the house apart to find the (uniform, text book,…) that if not located will cost a fortune.
Worry about which teacher (counselor, coach) will be matched with your child.</p>
<p>How can I add anything when I still have two more at home? It will be a long time before there are any good lasts.</p>
<p>I will say that in a bit over a year, when my youngest is out of middle school, I will not miss the middle school voice recitals. Some of the singers are good, but some are close to tone deaf, and then there is always the one who forgets the words to her song and bursts into tears. Won’t miss that at all!</p>
<p>In June I’ll no longer have a middle-schooler. I’ve loved the education, but there is drama always surrounding this school. I’ll be glad to get past the drama.</p>
<p>It’s been four years for me (S graduates college this year). But I still shiver with delight that I will never EVER have to do “bottle shed duty”. This was where our town let various organizations (PTA, soccer boosters…) have the proceeds of bottle and can recycling, so long as we “manned” the shed, sorting the stuff. You can’t imagine how many people never rinse those containers.</p>
<p>Ive been writing tuition checks since D was in Kindergarten.( that would be 17.5 years)…I wrote the last tuition check on September 3 2008.
Grad school is her responsibility!!!
That is something I will definately not miss.</p>
<p>Here’s one: For fundraisers, the guy who owns the local Sonic (used to) allow school groups to come in and be car hops for tips…of course, the car hops have to be 16, so the little cheerleaders or dancers hang around and the parents work as car hops for tips…then you do the math and figure that you’ve earned about $6 an hour in tips and so you made $24 in your 4 hour shift in the 100 degree heat…yet you have to work the event - they don’t let you just donate $25. </p>
<p>Last spring, one of the cheer moms got into an argument with the manager of the Sonic, which has caused him to forever ban all fundraising groups. Bless her heart!!!</p>
<p>Needing to ban text messaging from the dinner table
the messy room
the lack of enthusiasm for anything family orientated–dinner out, a trip…
GF
sharing a computer
biting my tongue when he forgets his medicine
watching him eat frozen food or walk in with Taco Bell while I am making a nutritious and delicious meal</p>
<p>Oh, I always wanted to be a band mom! Being a choir mom is not nearly as exciting. But it is fun being a drill team mom. I got to know the girls while doing hair/costume duty.</p>
<p>I’m a cheer mom, won’t miss those Sunday competitions!!</p>
<p>I will miss calling my daughter every morning at 6 a.m. (on my way to work) to MAKE SURE she’s out of bed and out of the house at 7 a.m. School starts at 7:15 a.m.</p>
<p>Funny tho, she told me the other day that her life would be perfect if she didn’t have to get up at 6 a.m. everyday. </p>
<p>She may be happy with those 8 a.m. college classes after all. :P</p>
<p>Oh, here’s a huge one. My youngest retired last spring after 8 years as a gymnast. I will ***not ***miss seeing my daughter on the balance beam. The event where the moms remind each other to breathe. I confess that a few times I took a little something to help me through it.</p>
<p>Of course, it was good for one thing. Now, whenever a child of mine sings a solo, or dances on stage, or is serving in volleyball, I don’t get nervous for them at all…because it is not the balance beam!!!</p>
<p>Missy- or driving 6 hours for a meet, paying for a hotel, spending 14 hours in the gym whilst your kids performs a total 180 seconds between all 4 events ;)</p>