I remember school mornings growing up that involved me working as hard as possible to squeeze out five to 10 more minutes of sleep.

I remember the graduatl, step-by-step increase of tactics used by my parents to get me out of bed and ready for school each morning.

First it was the sound of my parents’ alarm going off. The alarm was followed shortly by either my mom or dad — or both— calling out my name, telling me to get up.

If that didn’t work, the next tactic was to come in to my room and tell me to get up, this time with an increase in volume and tone.

When — not if — the first two didn’t work, the next step was to turn on the lights in my room. This usually worked, but not always.

Then came the next to last option, which was to remove the covers from my bed, leaving me just lying there.

At this point, if I was not up, then came what some would consider a little excessive. But, the last time I checked, a cup of cold water early in the morning is always helpful, unless you’re sleeping in a loft five feet off the ground.

Last week, children of all ages found that their summer had come an end, as schools and childcare centers sprung back to life. And, the tactics of getting children up and ready for school were put back in use.

This year, our 8-year-old began third grade. Sarah Cameron amazingly fell back in to the groove and proved to be an invaluable asset in helping get the other two up and going.

For the first time, our 2-year-old, Clayton, and 1-year-old, Fin, started childcare. It almost marked the first time those two had been separated in different classrooms. And, it was also the first time these two had to get up on our schedule, not there’s, and get ready for school.

Needless to say, Barnum and Bailey would have been impressed with the three-ring circus that was performed in our household this week.

It is a dance that has gone on long before I was a parent, it is one that is performed daily at homes everywhere and it is one that will continue long after our children are grown.

For me, the summer is fantastic, but I do look forward to the start of each school year. There is something about seeing our children all walk into school on the first day with new backpacks, outfits and tennis shoes.

There is something about the first meeting between teachers and students, everyone excited about getting the year — and the learning — started.

For me, the stories we get from our children, when we pick them up from school each afternoon, is the best part of the day.

So, as we are set to begin the second week of school in this area, here’s hoping mornings become more routine, homework remains the first thing done after getting home, and that the stories never get old.