More about mothers and the end of summer:

• Playdate season is back. Despite your best intentions, most of those end-of-the-year promises for epic playdates all summer long probably went unrealized.

• We get to return to our “regular” routines. Nothing’s better than getting back from vacation and dressing appropriately for the appropriate task. And we’re not saying yoga pants aren’t appropriate. If you wear pants with pockets, go girl!

• You can drink more coffee. Early morning wake-up calls mean you don’t have to explain that 5th cup of coffee to anyone even yourself.

•. The school bus reappears. Like a golden beacon, it arrives. If your kid takes the bus, you won’t spend precious minutes going the opposite direction of your work each morning. Save that for after school.

• Your kids start taking again. Missing the bath or shower was adorable when summer started. But you’re ready to see what your kid actually looks like under all the grime, glitter and paint.

• You don’t have to volunteer - yet. You’ll help out but because the year just started, you get to cut yourself some slack.