It's the traditional end of summer. Labor Day. The end of lazy days at the beach.  The end of summer rentals.  The dwindling down of backyard barbecues and long days when the sun stays out until the last possible moment.
And the dreaded start of school.  Back into the routine of early mornings, and homework-filled nights.

Only this year, it’s not going to go that way.

I don’t know what it’s like in your neck of the woods, but here in NYC, school close for the Jewish High Holidays.  Which means that this year, schools will open on the Tuesday after Labor Day, and then close the Thursday and Friday after Labor Day.

Two days of school and then a four day weekend.

So much for routine.

Plus, it’s hard on kids.  Imagine being a kindergartner, all nervous for your first day, worried about what it will be like…and then having to have a whole new first day less than a week later.

Imagine being a teacher, trying to wean your kids from summer freedom, having two days to do it, and then having to start it all over again less than a week later.

Plus, it’s just really, really annoying.

I’d like to extend summer. (who wouldn’t?)  I’d have liked another week of late mornings, and lazy afternoons.  I’d have liked my kids to get back into a routine and be in it a while.

I know all about the traditional end of summer.  But this year, we had the perfect excuse – the Jewish Holidays – to grant ourselves one extra week of summer.  I wish we had.  Even if it would mean losing a week on the other end.

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