As school winds down, a mom's calendar fills up

From today's Briefing:

I’m convinced that May is the new December.

It used to be that our calendar was most crowded in the weeks leading to Christmas. That was before I had two children in elementary school. Now, December seems downright leisurely.

Field trips. Teacher appreciation week. Mother’s Day teas. Rachel’s Rally. Choir performances. Campouts. Spirit night at the ballpark. End-of-season parties. End-of-school parties. Throw in routine homework, practices and meetings — plus a few birthday parties — and you’ve got a recipe for exhaustion.

I know what a rational person would say. Don’t do it all. Let some things go. I’ve heard it before — from friends and even myself. But it’s easier to imagine what you’d cross off the list than to actually follow through — not because it’s expected but because we actually enjoy all those activities.

Take last Thursday.

I spent 30 minutes making copies for fourth-grade teachers as part of my role as a room mom. I love being a room mom. I am fortunate to have the kind of work that I can do from home with enough flexibility to help at my children’s school.

Next I sat in a tiny chair in Katie’s classroom, where I was served orange juice and muffins. Katie gave me a charming class-compiled cookbook (with not a single recipe that could actually be replicated) and special drawings. She wrote that I am 90 pounds and have sparkly eyes and that I am the best mom in the whole wide world because I love her.

Thank goodness I didn’t cross that event off my list.

I worked from home for a few minutes before driving to a nearby high school to listen to Cooper and fellow choir members perform at Song Fest, a showcase of their work from the year.

Cooper signed up for choir on his own, without prodding. He never missed a practice; in fact, he woke up early every Wednesday to get himself to school by 7:15 a.m. He practices constantly at home.

I was thrilled to be able to listen to the whole group show off their diligent work and musical talent.

I had a little more time at home for work before driving to Carrollton to spend 30 minutes with the second-grader I’ve tutored this school year.

“Julia” has made huge improvements in math. When I first met her, she couldn’t add numbers in her head. Now when I ask, “What’s 12 plus 12?” Julia answers, “24,” with well-earned pride. I take no credit — she did all the work. But I am thankful that I’ve been there to watch her progress and celebrate her success.

I was able to work a few more hours before taking Cooper, Katie and a friend to Rachel’s Rally, our school district’s gathering to recognize deliberate acts of kindness. Children and teachers marched on the stadium field holding giant paper chains. Each link — there were thousands — represented an act of kindness or compassion.

It was totally worth the late night out to celebrate the good in our world.

We can’t sustain multiple days like that Thursday. In fact, I’ve made the tough decision to turn down invitations to two birthday parties this Saturday; to attend them between other events would be entirely too taxing.

But I am thankful that we’re finding time to recognize a school year’s worth of hard work. I’m also thankful that laid-back June is just a few weeks away.

Tyra Damm is a Briefing columnist. Email her at tyradamm@gmail.com.