Something is not sitting right with me.....

This is going to sound judgmental.
I don't intend it to be.
But I have something on my mind.
It's been bothering me for a while now. 
And it keeps coming up.
I don't have the answers  or solutions.
I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Where I live, kids are starting back to school.  Some started today, in fact.  Another school starts later this week.  And a bunch more start next week.  Hard to believe-seems like school just got out.  And here it is, time to return.

What troubles me (and this is not directed at anyone in particular) is the trend of celebrating I observe in many moms.  There is elation.  There is relief.  There is celebration.  Now, I UNDERSTAND this feeling, I have felt it too.  The bickering, the constant redirection, the repetition, the requests (ie demands), the competition and showing off between siblings.  I understand being frustrated and tired and worn down by our children.  I get it.

And yet, the celebratory tone troubles me.

I can't really put it into words, just yet.  But my heart is troubled by this attitude that the children God has blessed us with are a burden, and that it's all about me (the mom) wanting time to myself and to plan fun things with friends while the kids are in school.  There's something troubling about this.

Maybe it's the same "check" I feel in my spirit when I toured different day care centers and preschools looking for just the right place for my son.  They were all adorable, decorated, kids size stuff, fun, clean places.  Some were super convenient and flexible.  Some were affordable.  Some offered all kinds of cool activities and fun for the kids including field trips.  And yet, when I walked through them, I had this feeling of....well, I don't know what the feeling was, but it definitely was NOT peace.  Unsettled.  Unsure.  Uncomfortable.  That is why I could never commit to a center.  I became flustered and indecisive.  Wishy washy.  So I set it aside. 

Or the time I got a chipper sounding email update from the local public school system announcing that they were able to offer full day, full time preschool for 3 and 4 year old children.  The hours were terrible-and by terrible, I mean long.  This is to accommodate working and commuting parents.  This email brought tears to my eyes.  

I have only heard two or three moms express sadness that summer and extended time together, as a family was coming to a close. In my circle, the sad moms are definitely the minority. 

At any rate, I am not judging parents who need to put their kids in day care, I get it.  I do it, periodically, out of necessity.  But there is something here that troubles me.

Anyone else?