Are we DONE yet?

Fourth grade. When I think of my fourth grade year I remember the teacher who seemed to love me so, taking more tests on those computer bubble sheets than I care to recall, and having to change schools from the neighborhood elementary I'd attended since the first grade, then leaving Dayton, Ohio altogether to relocate to Fort Collins, Colorado. While my fourth grade school year was busy with change, it seems Jay's fourth grade school year is full of HOMEWORK!

I don't remember having a lot of homework on a daily basis in elementary school. Well, over the past month or so, it seems Jay is at school all day only to come home with a backpack full of homework to complete before the next school day. This, for a child who thrives on breaks, relaxation. This, for a child whose immune system senses too much stress and will either show itself through a cold sore or cause any number of physical maladies like stomach aches, mild fevers, headaches, even hives. This, for a child whose mother believes strongly in a child enjoying time outside running or bike riding, or at the very least time to do whatever the child does for fun.

On the one hand I appreciate the kids' school for creating ways for students who love learning to go above and beyond what may be taught in the grade-level classroom. But on the other hand I would also appreciate weekends without a paper to write, a project to complete, or math problems to solve. Can't they have weekends?! And if we are going to watch the kids hammer out homework over the weekend, can you minimize weekday assignments? I mean really.

In short, I'm so over fourth grade even I am counting the school days until summer (18)! When Jay stresses, I stress, and I'm no fan of stress. We have many school years ahead of us, but oh when summer comes...these two will do nothing but relax (for the first week) and do little more than read a book in the shade (the second week), then review what they learned during the previous school year - a little here, a little there. This is one mama who can't wait for summertime!