I have eight kids. Here's why the 'back-to-school' mom memes break my heart

Summer is the best season.

My kids have no school commitments and our time is spent getting together with friends, doing weekend trips, camping, going to the lake, and enjoying the time we have with each other.

My oldest is already in college so I know the feeling of time slipping through my fingers as my kids get older and create lives of their own.

Time with my husband and eight children is my most precious gift and while back-to-school season is exciting, it’s certainly bittersweet.

The joy of watching my kids grow into the next stage of life is balanced out by the feeling that most of August is the Sunday before school starts.

Raising kids is hard, and it’s okay to feel a little relief when structure returns.

But I think we should be thoughtful about the message our children receive in the way we celebrate.

JO FROST CALLS OUT MODERN PARENTING MISTAKES SHE SAYS ARE ROBBING CHILDREN OF BASIC LIFE SKILLS Scrolling through social media this time of year brings meme after meme of parents, usually moms, who are thrilled the school year is starting because it’s time to ship their kids off to someone else five days a week.

The photos of moms in robes on their doorstep holding a glass of wine are everywhere.

Kids notice when we seem overly eager to send them away.

They remember whether we treated their presence as a burden or a gift.

They hear how their parents are elated about sending them elsewhere for hours every day.

Kids are much more perceptive than we give them credit for.

Even if all of the back-to-school jubilation is in jest, deep down they know they are of some undue burden to their parents.