The kids are back in school! Parents are either jumping for joy or wistfully wishing for a summer that never ends.

School time is the beginning of the year for a lot of folks, even more so than New Year’s. It’s the time of fresh new notebooks and pencils, homework and new activities.

It’s a new beginning for Moms as well. Whether it is the first time for dropping a child off at pre-school or the last year of high school, it is a time of conflicting emotions.

So, what does a Mom do with this change after experiencing the long, lazy days of summer?

Many Moms only had a week or two of vacation from work to celebrate with the family. However, even with that, cooking is lighter; there is no homework to check; bedtime can be later and weekends are filled with outdoor fun.

For the home-working Moms, there is more flexibility, although a lot more time to fill with activities and a lot more “I’m bored” remarks from the children.

At any rate, life is back on its regular pendulum and it is time to think about something for Mom to do just for herself.

What will it be this year? Will it be a college class—online schools are often accredited; however, caution is the key. Will it be a dance or exercise class? Will it be a reading group?

Whatever Mom chooses, this should be something that involves “me only” time. It is too easy (and convenient) to ignore personal needs in favor of the children, particularly if Mom works outside the home.

“No, I can’t do that because it would take time away from the children and I am a single mother.” How many times is that mantra recited per day around the world?

Moms need to understand that they deserve some time for themselves, whether it be a class to advance at work or a class to advance energy level.

Kids need to understand that their parents have lives that do not involve them. Not only is this healthy, but it is necessary to having children grow up independent and resourceful on their own, Skip this part of a child’s upbringing and be prepared for a lifetime of, “Mom, how do I register the car?” “Mom, how do I make spaghetti?”

While it is common for everyone to feel needed, teaching children to accept a Mom’s life outside of theirs is an important lesson in teaching respect for privacy (Mom’s), learning problem solving skills and pride in their own creativeness.

Why not give it a try? It works!