update

After our "recess" (in which all three of us spent in separate rooms) the school day was much better.  By taking the time to cool off and let everyone energize in their own way I think I avoided major resentment issues.  If I had forced togetherness and forged ahead with the schedule I would have alienated the kids.  That's a big lesson for me: let go of the schedule and be flexible!  And, no mom, we don't need banana bread.  Darren recently joked that we seem to eat more banana muffins than actual bananas because we can't eat them in time.  I currently have a half a batch of banana chocolate chip muffins out on the counter and three more ripe bananas awaiting their fate in the freezer.