And so it is, just like you always said it would be….

And so it is, just like you always said it would be…. Most of the time.

I love that lyric. And it applies more than ever at the end of the academic year. Everyone talks about the end of the school year with a unique mixture of excitement, fear, wondering how they are going to pay for everything that’s needed/wanted to keep them happy / entertained / quiet whilst you get some urgent, imminent deadline work done. And wanting to make this summer break the one where lifetime memories are made. With a sprinkling of “please God let the weather be good” thrown on the top.

It’s also a time of reflection for me. Each year, there’s been something different – first of all it was Elliott in school and our last year with William at home. Then it was the two of them in school together. Then it was Elliott moving to the big playground and William in the small one – how on earth will we manage to get between the two. Then this year, has been them both in the same big playground – how would they fare? What will we do with the extra 15 minutes a day before school pick up? And now, we have Elliott going into the next building up – the big, grown up one. It’s all change again.

But there’s something that’s not changed. And that’s my ability to appreciate increasingly, year on year, how grateful I am, and in awe of the teachers who dedicate themselves to not just educating our boys – they are people who shape, mould and foster life skills, relationship management and for want of a better word -citizenship to our boys. I love how our boys think that their teachers and teaching assistants are fonts of knowledge who outshine us. “Mummy you are *so* *wrong* – I’m going to go and ask Miss Cooper about that, because she knows what’s what” was the highlight of my year.

I really wouldn’t mind paying more council tax to pay our teacher and their support staff more. I think they do a job that yes, is vocational. But it’s more than that. I think it must be like being a vicar – a calling. I always feel that our gifts of alcohol at the end of year are just not enough. But I also don’t know what sort of gift would express our gratitude appropriately. Having spoken to a couple of teachers in other walks of life, they tell me that my working hard to support them and continue to install the approaches they are taught at school, at home, is enough.

So I think thats my job for the upcoming six week break – to go over all the interesting, challenging and brilliant things they’ve learnt this year and send them into the next one, full of excitement and enthusiasm for what their teachers have in store for them. What will you be doing with your children’s summer holidays?