Back To School, Sad Time For Kids. Parents, Time To Party

It's back-to-school time in Montana. There are so many stories that start like that these days. "Back To School" isn't just for the kids, the college students, the teachers, and the schools, it is a time for parents to take a breath, take a break. The other day I happened to be in the Bitterroot Valley and found myself in a liquor store, and there I saw it. A "Back To School" display catering to the parents!

Back to school for the parents!

A couple of thoughts crossed my mind. My first thought was that it was funny. My second thought was, "How Montana is that?" Then the third thought was "But of course!" When I was a kid and summer was over, I used to think that my mom was back at home just waiting for us to come home and ask how our day was. I thought she was at home all day just waiting. I never thought that she was sitting there with a nice big glass of Chardonnay just trying to relax after a summer of craziness. Sleepovers, Flathead Lake, "swimmer's itch", fireworks, the list goes on and on. After "Back To School" shopping, packing lunches, getting backpacks ready, wrapping up the summer, it is time for the parents to embrace some quiet. To have that glass of wine, that hard seltzer, that beer (please enjoy responsibly) and to look around and relish that another school year has begun. As the realization hit me in the liquor store that parents can enjoy back to school, probably more than the kids do.

Back to school pictures!

The past few days my social media feeds have been filled with pictures of the kids going back to school, I couldn't help but think that behind every picture there is a parent or two that are taking a breath and having a drink and giving a toast to "Back To School". Please enjoy the season responsibly.