Do you cringe at the thought of setting your alarm clock? Groan when it goes off? I know how you feel! What's funny is that this summer I bought my kids alarm clocks as they'll have to get up early for school. They were sooooooooo excited! One reason, they don't have to hear a monotone buuuuuuuzzzzzzzzzzz. Nor do they have a foghorn blasting away at them. They can put in a cd of their choice and wake up to whatever music they choose. My son has been waking up to the sound of "SpongeBob Squarepants!" He had the volume turned up so high the other morning my husband could hear SpongeBob downstairs. My daughter has been changing daily from "Phantom of the Opera" to "Grease" to "Princess Diaries." Oh, to be seven and nine again when alarm clocks are thought to be great fun and you have the energy to bound out of bed each morning.

By the way, school went really well yesterday. I cried when my daughter came down to the kitchen in her uniform. She looked so grown up. I was worried I'd be a blubbering idiot taking them to their classes but I managed to hold it together and not embarrass them. But I felt the tightening of the throat, my eyes filling up, so I left before the waterworks. The kids had a great day, and I'm so grateful for that!