Mom ready to hit the books (again)

The kids won’t be the only ones heading back to school this fall.

By CHRISTY CEGELSKI

About the time Jan. 1 rolls around, and we collectively turn our calendars to the new year, many of us feel propelled into action of some kind or another.

It’s a time for self-reflection, resolutions and renewal. For me, however, the time for such introspection and motivation always occurs simultaneously with the commencement of a new school year.

I love back to school time! The fall clothing ensembles, the blank pages of a new composition book, the pointy pencils – all of it ripe with possibilities.

Since I became a mom, I think I’ve looked forward to our annual back-to-school shopping excursions even more than my girls have. There’s just something about being able to reinvent yourself with a new look and a new attitude (and maybe even a new resolve to study harder) that has always been exciting to me.

This year the tables will be turned slightly when I head back to school along with my kids. Since rediscovering my passion for writing and embarking on a freelance career in recent years, I’ve toyed with the idea of returning to college to earn an English degree with a writing focus.

After much deliberation about whether or not I should do it, and waiting for the “right” time, I finally decided to take the plunge.

I can’t wait to copy my course schedule down into my planner and highlight all the important passages in my shiny new textbooks. I anxiously anticipate getting my clothes ready the night before class and packing my lunch right along with my kids’. Call me crazy, but I’m even looking forward to having homework.

I’d say I have the normal amount of nervousness and doubt that any parent contemplating such a life change would have. (I’m a 37-year-old wife and mother of two – can I really be a college student again? Will I be able to pull this off?)

For the most part, though, I’m excited about getting in the back-to-school game again, rather than just sitting on the sidelines and watching my kids have all the fun.

As far as my family goes, they have been unbelievably supportive of my decision. I’ll admit there was some trepidation on their parts initially. However, once they got an idea of what my going back to school would look like for them, they were genuinely happy to see me working toward something that makes me happy. (We all know if mom is happy, everybody wins!)

It really has been a great exercise in all of us working together to figure out how we can help make it a smooth transition for everyone.

I’m certain I don’t know exactly what I’m in for by going back to school, but something tells me I’ll be able to handle it even better than I did before I had a family. For some reason, being responsible for the well-being of other (little) human beings makes you realize you can handle so much more than you ever thought possible.

But just in case I’m wrong on all counts, wish me luck!

Christy Cegelski is a freelance writer who lives in Sanbornton.