Truth from the trenches
By Melissa Hart

I think I’ve decided to campaign for a new school calendar.

As of the writing of this column, my kids had gone off to school on a beautiful sunny, cool morning and everything seemed normal. They were excited to see their friends, my daughter was the first one ready and my youngest son was stuffing football pads into his football girdle as he was walking out the door. (Yes, he lacks a little in the “being prepared” department.)

It was the first day of school and the house was quiet. So far, so good …

But making the second pot of coffee, getting ready to write this piece, I looked at my kitchen counter full of dirty dishes and was about to yell, “Sarah, make sure you get the dishes done … Jake, head out to the barn and start bedding and I’ll be out after I write my column!”

And then I remembered, in the strange silence, there was no one in the house but the new puppy, Annabell – and she’s not into doing dishes quite yet.

I finally realized I was going to have to pick up the slack and do my own dishes, bed the barn by myself and then come in and actually do the laundry from start to finish.

In addition, I was also going to have to remember when everyone needed to be picked up from practices and who will and won’t be home for supper, and provide something nutritional to eat for the revolving door of athletes who tend to wander in and out.

I thought long and hard about my predicament. And then I came up with a solution that would not only satisfy my needs, but would surely be a homerun with every student everywhere: I think we should have one week of school per month.

That would give them 60 school days over a 12-month period. I think that’s enough time to learn the essentials, don’t you? Not only would this cut costs for schools, but it would also eliminate all those “fluff” school days. You know, the fun days – field trips, class parties, movie days, et cetera.

Then, these students could really get down to the business of concentrated learning. Frankly, if you can’t learn everything you need to know in 60 days, then it’s not worth learning anyway, right?

Besides, I need my workforce home so I don’t have to do dishes and laundry, and bed the barn alone!

Or maybe the truth is … I simply miss my kids.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Melissa Hart may write to her in care of this publication.