Omg. It’s the middle of August (almost) which used to mean we had three more weeks of summer before going back to school and hitting the books, back when the school year ran from after Memorial and Labor Day. Now, not so much. Some of my nieces and nephews in other states have already gone back to school, but here in Missouri the law says:

Each local school district may set its opening date each year, which date shall be no earlier than fourteen calendar days prior to the first Monday in September.

But even with that, my grandkids are all starting school in a week. I know their parents welcome this. I know I always did especially when my children were home alone during the summer. Being in school, I didn’t have to worry (usually) where they were during the day. (Notice I said “usually”? When my now police officer son was in high school, I never knew where he would be. Wow how times have changed .)

The year after my youngest son graduated from high school was the first time in thirty-five years I didn’t have to, the thought hit me…I don’t have to prepare for school! Wow. What a strange feeling that was.

So what do people who don’t have to deal with kids going back to school do? For the Great Hunter and I, it means our four-legged kids. They are almost as big a part of our lives as our two-legged kids were.

And what could be better than double kisses?