As a kid, summer is magical. You have your freedom, you can do whatever you want, and there’s no homework. Life is good.

As a parent, it’s pretty much the opposite. 

With no childcare during the day, aka school, to look after your little mini me, the sole person in charge of your tiny-human’s safety, entertainment, and well-being is yourself. So when summer starts, it’s every parent’s marathon of juggling kid’s plans with errands, life, and maintaining a shred of sanity. 

For most parents, «back to school» sounds more like «holy crap, I did it. I need a drink». Back to school sale signs at Target are actually just a symbol that mom’s and dad’s everywhere have crossed the finish line and made it through summertime shenanigans.

But does that make you a bad parent? No, it just means you’re simply struggling to balance the full time job of governing a child, while maintaining some sort of semblance of an adult life. That’s all good. You just need a nap… and for some fall leaves to start falling already because pouring whiskey in your coffee just isn’t keeping you sane anymore. 

So no, it doesn’t make you a bad parent if you’re counting down the days until your 5th grader goes back to school– it makes you human.