The pace in our home changes dramatically with the end of the school year - I'm no longer opening curtains and turning off fans, trying to lure my sleepy kids out of bed at 6:40 AM. There's no (barely) underlying frantic "hurry-hurry" mode for breakfast, teeth-brushing, bed-making and lunch packing, in order to get out the door by 7:30 AM. My nearly 3-year old daughter is allowed to sleep until she wants to - school pick-ups no longer require her to be yanked from peaceful afternoon napdom. Ballet and piano recitals are complete, and soccer season is over.
Everyone together now ... aaaaahhhhhhh! It's a zen moment.
Scout camp, swim lessons, neighborhood Kidz Kamp, and other outings lay before us. The challenge is, the hours inbetween - keeping them from turning into an un-ending marathon of Looney Tunes and other kiddie TV fare. We have daily chores, school bridge booklets, the YMCA, the library, and the community pool. We have a house full of Legos, puzzles, books, and toys, toys, toys. Still, I often feel like the ancient Egyptian taskmaster, cracking my whip and directing children (with the requisite foreboding glare) to "turn off the TV/computer/Wii", and do something. I've occasionally "suggested" that if they're that disinterested with their toys, that we pack them up and take them to the United Way donation truck (that often elicits a quick response). North Texas is just not a family-friendly place in the summer as far as the great outdoors are concerned.
To their notable credit, my children do get along, in spite of the reverse cabin fever of a Texas summer. Sometimes they play all together, sometimes they split off into random pairs, sometimes they seek a little solitude. The "big three" (agest 11, 9, and nearly 7) are very patient with their all-too-evidently terrible-2-year old sister. Still, I count my blessings - no teenage angst (yet), no slammed doors with "keep out" signs. Don't get me wrong! There is definitely dissent from time to time, and regular eye-rolling (try picking out music in the minivan that pleases all ages! Musical Mission Impossible! We rotate between Raffi, Harry Potter soundtracks, Backyardigans, Madagascar, Little Mermaid, Hap Palmer, classical ...)
One week of precious summer vacation has already come and gone - soon enough we'll be trolling the aisles of Walmart and Target for school supplies, new school shoes, and uniforms. I need to remember that though they are not necessarily easy days, these are nonetheless, days to embrace.
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2 comments:
So fun to read about your summertime and see your kids being silly. Thanks!
1-You should submit this blog post to a magazine that moms read.
2-I LOVED the video!
After seeing "Despicable Me" this summer, my kids are doing a lot more bum-dancing (sigh). Wish we could have a big cousin-dance with your kids! Thanks again for your post, and keep up the great mommying that you do!
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