Behind every back to school picture is a dark secret that no one talks about. I’m sure some people know about it, but it isn’t acknowledged much in broad daylight. Perhaps it’s whispered about in the PTA, but it’s certainly not mentioned in any of the paperwork that your child brings home in their backpack.

But I’m here to tell you the honest truth…

The happy go lucky children you put on the bus in the morning, are NOT the same that you retrieve in the evening. Not even close. In the morning they are bouncy, excited, and full of energy, By the time you get them again, they are hungry, grumpy, and completely incapable of following even the simplest instructions.

For instance, at 5:45 this morning (yes, 5:45 A.M.!) the boys were in my room ready to face the day. They got dressed without commotion. They hurried downstairs for breakfast. There was nothing but smiles and pleasantries.

But then this evening came. I picked them all up and it is as if someone replaced my good natured, sweet children with hungry-tired-angry- balls of pure adrenaline and tragic emotion, that lack even the most basic expressions of self-control (as in for the love of all things holy, PLEASE STOP TOUCHING YOUR SIBLINGS!!) 

Maybe I’m wrong… maybe this is just in our house.

But I have a sneaking suspicion that I’m not.