Where do I go from here?

Getting the kids' things ready for school this weekend has ignited a bit of excitement in me, much like I used to feel about heading back to school each fall.  New backpacks, new indoor shoes, possibly a few new outfits... it always felt more like a time to start fresh than an actual calendar new year.  Seeing who your teacher was, who was in your class, finding out what you'd get to do this school year - it was invigorating and just a little nerve wracking.

I'm feeling a little like that myself this fall.  My youngest is starting JK and, although it's alternating full days, it still feels like it's my time to reignite my spark, my interests and make some plans of my own as I will suddenly have a few days each week to myself.

I've been doing a lot of thinking about what I should pursue this fall.  Should I take a new direction in my career?  Should I stick with freelance work (writing) or test some new waters? Should I go back to school?  Should I try a new exercise or dance class?  Should I volunteer more or less or in different ways?  Should I get yet another tattoo?  OK, so that last one doesn't have anything to do with my life plans but hey, I'm still thinking about it!

It's all a lot to process.  I'm sure I'm not the only mom who has chosen to stay home for a while and perhaps feels a little like "where's my place now?" After having worked toward a certain level in a career and then stepping aside from that to stay home with kids, where do I go from here?  Am I too old now to pursue things I used to want to do?

Do others feel like this?  If you have, how did you choose what to do?  Or are you still trying to figure it out, too?

In the meantime, I'll celebrate my little people moving into the next stage in their scholarly lives and maybe shed a few tears that they are all growing up.