Last Day of School is Bittersweet

Our neighborhood last-day-of-school parties were a treat for kids and parents.

I don't know a parent who doesn't feel happy and sad at the same time to see another school year end.

Doesn't it seem like just yesterday that you were buying the big box of crayons, the "good" calculator and 27,000 folders to start out the year? The last day of school brings with it a slew of emotions - maybe a little bit of sadness to see the end of a lean, mean routine you've perfected; a little bit of happiness that you don't have to keep up that routine anymore; and amazement that your children are another year older, another grade finished.

The last day of school was always my favorite holiday. Years ago, I started throwing a last-day-of-school party and it became something of a neighborhood tradition. It was super casual, simple and put together at the last minute. The idea was to have a venue for parents, kids and their teachers to kick back and say "Yahoo!" together.

The kids would all play outside, burning off nine months worth of pent-up energy, while the adults sat and relaxed, talking about summer plans. One year it poured down rain, but that didn't stop the kids. They ran around in the downpour, playing slip-and-slide down a muddy hill and were as filthy as children can get. It somehow seemed a fitting activity for a last-day-of-school party.

Before you start planning the perfect summer for your children, treat them and yourself to an end-of-school bash. And then let the summer begin!