“The time for sleep and rest has finished." This sentence is not only for students who are starting the second term, but also for mothers. The beginning of second term means the start of a long, fatiguing journey that ends on the last day of exams. Mothers' hard work throughout the academic year is unique. Mothers suffer with their children who are adjusting to new sleep and wake schedules, which change during mid-year break. Mothers also hunt and buy items required by teachers, and, of course, there's the routine, constant demand of managing domestic affairs. “Before the start of the second term, there was a state of emergency in the house because of a need to reclaim the study room, which had morphed into a virtual club where the kids played computer and electronic games," Umm Mohamed, a mother for two boys, told The Egyptian Gazette. “They only kept the computer because they use it to study their curriculum. I know that controlling young boys is very difficult, but I am trying. I prepare well for study sessions with them and follow up lessons from day to day," Umm Mohamed added. My husband does not help me since I don't leave the house to work. He always says that studying with the children is my duty alone," she complained. “I am very tired from the beginning of the study session because I go alone to the book shops and buy all private books and other school supplies requested by teachers. My husband died," Mrs Hameida Ali, a widow, told the same newspaper. “The expenses of second term are the same as the first term. Teachers need new notebooks and new private books. They know that my sons are orphans, but don't compassionate me," Mrs Ali explains. “Mothers are the only ones who suffer with the children, and she makes her best effort to make them the best students," Umm Hassan said. “My husband doesn't help me. He always says ‘I work to bring the money for you and you should care for the children'," Umm Hassan added. Nashwa, a mother of two (Mohamed and Nadine who attend primary school), said that prices for school items have increased, especially for handbags and shoes. The rate of increase sometimes exceeds 25 per cent. She added that schools need to consider family budgets in the current economic climate when preparing their lists. “I buy pencils, rulers and notebooks at the beginning of the second semester for about LE1, 000," Nashwa reported. “The burdens are not only monetary; there are daily duties involved as well directed towards my children. I wake up early at 5:00am to prepare sandwiches and milk for the kids, and then go with them to school. After that I go to my job," Manal Adel explains to the same newspaper. “My children's breakfast during the school term costs a lot of money. They especially ask me to buy fast food such as burgers, hot dogs and different types of cheese," Adel added. Sally, a doctor and mother of three, confirms that everything concerning schools has risen [in price]. She said that the price of winter school uniforms and office tools increased about 10 per cent. “I finish my work late, so I leave my children alone at home. They play during this time and do not do their homework or study their lessons. They wait for me to return home from work before studying. I work throughout the day and night. During the two terms, I do not take a break," Mrs Mona Hamed said. Tutoring swallows a large part of an Egyptian family's budget, which consumes about 40 per cent of total monthly spending. The last report by the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics said that 42 per cent of what Egyptian families spend per month goes to private lessons for children, despite high poverty rates. “More than half of my family income is spent on the needs of teachers, which is endless. I give my children private lessons in all subjects because I do not find time to follow up with them myself due to work demands," Hamed added. “I dream of the day when the school year does not become a heavy burden on families. That will be under two critical conditions, firstly, the quality of education improves, and secondly if laws governing work schedules change to allow woman to spend more time with their children," Hamed ended with happy wishes for all working mothers.
