I mentioned when I wrote about The ten GOOD things about summer that I'd likely follow up with an ten bad. Well, today is the lucky day. Not because its a bad day but because a smattering of things are on my mind and it's time to just, let them out.
- The relaxed schedule. If you will remember, this was also number ONE on the "good" list. And I referenced that this would indeed be number 1 on the bad list. As nice as it is to let up at the beginning of the school year and just relax...nearing the final month of summer I feel my OCD kick in and find the insatiable need for ORDER once again. Schedules start to look dreamy and idyllic. Having no order in the home is equal parts liberating and frustrating. It IS nice to not feel rushed (on weeks without camps) and it is nice to do what we want when ... but I think most children crave some normal order. Not having that has been hard on Luke, and me this summer to some degree!
- CAMPS. Camps are awesome. The un-aweseom part is the you sign up for them 4 months in advance when you are sick of school, thinking ahead to summer and your kids seemingly want to do everything. Then push comes to shove in the summer time and next thing you know you are pushing your kiddo out the door in countless bribes to go to some camp that in March they REALLY wanted to go to. Not to mention, you probably over committed yourself if you are anything like me. I thought I had everything really spaced out, not too much and inevitably, it IS too much. Mental note: reread this post next March! ;)
- SOMEONE IS ALWAYS UP IN MY BUSINESS. And by business I mean within a 2' perimeter of me. Toilet, kitchen sick, couch -- you name it. My business is constantly being invaded. UNLESS I take them outside. Outside is their wonderland. Wanna know what I can get done outside? NOTHING. (besides weeding and reading and I've done that!) I HAVE TO BE inside sometimes. SOMEONE HASS TO PAY THE BILLS! Make appointments, take to vendors, deal with household issues, etc. Finding time to do these simple tasks is perhaps one of my biggest challenges!
- Showers. I'm ALL for bathing children. But I happen to like the lax schedule of bathing in the winter when you really don't get that germ infested or dirty that you can push baths out to 2-3 days. It isn't the ACT of bathing/showering as much as it is GETTING THEM THERE and the battle of "why do I need ANOTHER shower" ensues. It makes me want to rip the hose out and just have a cold water squirt down fest in the buff every time. I want to go all animal on these dirty rotten scoundrels! We take a bath to get clean! NOAH (aka Fred Flintstone) has black feet EVERY.SINGLE.NIGHT.
- I'm a short order cook. I TRY not to be but let's face it, I am. I want them to eat meals and get good calories into their bodies. However they all like and prefer different things and then I turn into a diner for the better part of my days. Luke is SO CONFUSED at dinner when I present "the meal" and says "That is NOT what I picked." I say, "Um, you didn't get a pick. Dinner is MY MEAL that I PICK and YOU EAT." *sigh*
- While on that topic. SNACKS. Oh, and popsicles. For the love of Jesus. I had forgotten how many of these items I need to have on hand for not only my children, but the neighborhood. I should just start playing my own music and get a truck to roam the neighborhood. ;) For real, I LOVE dishing these things out but my checkbook thinks it might be time for school to start again!!!
- Late bedtimes. Each week starts out the same "Let's try and get the kids to bed at a decent time this week" and then we end up in the same slump of late bedtimes and failed goals. Summer is hard. Fun events are going on, evenings spent bike riding and enjoying the weather are precious here. I keep thinking "soon we won't be able to do this" and it prods me to just let it go and ENJOY it. I think that's best. Gosh. Some of my best memories were at dusk or dark growing up playing flashlight take and catching fire flies. Bedtime will be back before we know it.
- My house is a freaking train wreck. But I think the time I wrote about Summer House pretty much covers all of that. Suffice it to say I'm ready to take back my home and become the queen of my throne! ;)
- Eating crap. The garbage my kids are putting into their mouths is ridiculous. Granted I have control over some of that still and do my best. And sometimes, quite frankly, I don't. Yes you can have that and YES we say YES to the ice cream truck! YES! But although my kids think SUGAR is a food group into itself, I need to remind them that indeed, it is NOT. (I might need to remind myself of that too!)
- We miss our school friends! Since we don't go to the local school we have to make real effort to see our friends from school which can not always work easily and conveniently! We have amazing neighborhood friends but I know the kids miss seeing their school buds! Going back to school is always like reuniting with long lost pals and such a good feeling.
Honestly. I thought I'd have more bad to right but this summer has treated me really really well. I've enjoyed the kids much more this summer than previous summers. I think it's their age. Noah, the youngest, is able to do so much on his own now. With no naps (he was still napping last year), a willingness to do things and ability to do more ... it has made the summertime more enjoyable.
For a list of "bad" this stuff isn't so bad after all. CHEERS to a good summer and let's RAISE OUR GLASS to a great back-to-school Fall (still 30 days away for us!)