For the most part, the first day back to school went smoothly in our home.

My oldest daughter, Liv, 10, was a bit anxious last night. But she calmed down when we assured her that her grade 5 teacher wouldn't mind that she had forgotten how to do long division and spell the days of the week in French over the summer. She woke up this morning, ready to take on the new year.

Sophie, 7, skipped from our house to the school yard - five minutes away. But she froze and turned ashen when another mom announced that the grade 1/2 teacher had broken her leg last night (what timing!) and there would be a supply teacher for at least a week. Sophie wouldn't let go of my hand until the last child in her class was finally marching in the door and she had no choice but to follow.

Oh, how I hate going to work knowing one of my kids is not happy or stressed.

The good news is that my husband picked the girls up at 3:30 and called me to say they both had a great day. (Sophie loved the supply teacher - her older sister used to call them "surprise" teachers).

The best back-to-school story came to me from a former co-worker who left Canadian Living magazine last week to pursue a degree in environmental studies. Miriam went to orientation day at University of Toronto this afternoon and then and emailed me  to say a lot of students brought their parents ... and it was the parents who were asking all the questions.

Yes, this is university! Talk about not being able to let go.

I hope the first day back to school went well for your family. Write and tell me your stories!

- Kathryn

P.S. Tomorrow I'll announce two winners of book contest.

Summer's almost over, isn't it?

Oh, did I just put a damper on your day? Sorry. (To make it up, I'll let you in on a little secret ... if you really don't want to read my blog you could skip to the end to see the contest.)

Now, back to the discussion at hand ... I know that it doesn't officially become fall until Sept 22 - almost a whole month from now. But the real sign that summer is behind us is the first day of school, and that's less than two weeks away.

Everyone has a different event that signals the end of the summer. Perhaps it's a trip to the mall for back to school supplies, or spying your kid's worn-out, grass-stained sneekers lying in the front hall. (This week, both of my daughter's Crocs fell apart - a sure sign that summer is winding down).

For my family, the realization that summer is leaving us comes with the arrival of the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. The Ex, as it's affectionately known, always starts two weeks before school.  Len, the girls and I visited it on Sunday ... taking in the rides (I can't do rollercoasters or anything that spins too much, but I'm a star on the carpet slide!), smells (what is it with kids and candy floss?) and sights (great farm animals; we loved Oscar the long-tailed sheep).

Talk to me ... What signals the end of summer for you? And are you looking forward to what is  the real start of the new year?

CONTEST TIME: I've got a great Canadian family movie,  Finn on the Fly, to give away ... so write to me.

This movie has lots of laughs