Frumpy Middle-Aged Mom blog: 10 reasons to love 'back to school'

(MCT) — It's been fun this summer to sleep in a bit late and not have to rush my kids off in the morning.

But all good things must come to an end.

Here are reasons to send the kids back to school:

1. The first day of school is always so exciting. My kids even comb their hair. Voluntarily.

2. When I clean the house in the morning, it will stay tidy for entire hours, instead of nanoseconds.

3. I can actually have peace while I'm working at home, instead of listening to this scintillating David Mamet-like dialogue: "You shut up." "No, you shut up." "I told you to shut up first."

4. No one will stomp into the kitchen every seven minutes yelling, "I'm hungry, what have we got to eat?" and then reject every culinary classic that I offer.

5. The kids will go back to music class and learn to play their instruments better, instead of just torturing them. And me. And the dog. And the neighbors.

6. The adorable offspring won't be pestering me 846 times a day with their favorite six-word phrase: "I'm bored, can I watch TV?"

7. I won't feel guilty for relenting and letting them watch TV, just so they'll be quiet and let me work.

8. They'll bring home so many fun things to do, like science projects and dioramas that are due in 12 hours.

9. I will have fewer opportunities to feel inadequate because I'm not the "cool mom" with the pool and deluxe video game at her house.

10. Two words: Early bedtimes.

Marla Jo Fisher was a workaholic before she adopted two foster kids several years ago. Now she juggles work and single parenting, while being exhorted from everywhere to be thinner, smarter, sexier, healthier, more frugal, a better mom, better dressed and a tidier housekeeper. Contact her at mfisherocregister.com. Read her blog at themomblog.freedomblogging.com/category/frumpy-middleaged-mom-marla-jo-fisher/.