'Twas the Night Before School Starts

'Twas the night before school starts and all the day long,

This mother of five children was still going strong.

She had started her day gathering, organizing, and cleaning,

Not fully realizing what a task was beginning......

The laundry was started and well underway,

Sorting through dressers took a good part of her day.

Do these pants still fit? Let's try them and see.

If they stay or they go--doesn't matter to me.

Too small, too stained, too holey, outgrew,

Out with the old and in with the new.

And what a mighty task it was!  Just to realize

That each child's backpack must be filled with supplies.

Paper, pens, markers, and glue,

Don't forget the notebooks!  How 'bout PE shoes?

Check off the lists for the things that were bought'n,

And make a new one for the things that were forgotten.

"Why must we clean for the first day of school?"

The kids whined and complained, which was very uncool

To this mother of five who couldn't explain

Why a clean house is a must for her brain

To work properly and function with happiness and joy

"Someday you'll understand..." she explained with annoy.

Meat, crackers, fruit, cheese,

Juice, yogurt, and dessert, please.

The lunches--all five--prepared in advance, 

So that in the morning this mom has a chance, 

To stay ahead of the whirlwind that comes each school day,

In an effort to keep the rushing and chaos at bay.

Together as a family this final summer eve,

Bonding, loving, laughing, reprieve

From the hustle and bustle of the busy day

And the realization that summer will soon fade away

Into the distance.  May our memories keep

The good times we've had together and treasure them deep.

With the last load of laundry folded and put away,

She said her "Good nights!" and finished her day.

One, two......  three, four, five,

She tucked them in--all still alive!

Tomorrow's awaiting, fresh and anew.

Tomorrow's the first day of school!  Phew!