You guys. I had an epiphany this week. Think you can handle it? It’s just as profound as you’d expect from me.
Okay, here it is:
The transition to summer is really hard once you have kids in school.
I KNOW! Deep, am I right?
You probably oughta write that down. Or quote me on Twitter …or something.
But here’s the deal:
Years ago, when I had the kids home all day every day all year long, I could not understand the parents who dreaded summer.
But now I do. (Read in ominous voice.)
I think the start of summer break carries with it for parents all of the misery that the start of SCHOOL carries for kids.
All that glorious freedom, GONE. How did the time go so fast? And why didn’t I have more fun while it lasted?
And what do you MEAN, I’ve outgrown my pants?! (Maybe that last one’s just me…)
After the week I’ve had, I’m already ready for a vacation. I shall now illustrate. With a numbered list.
1
Infected tick bite (mine) with one trip to urgent care
on a Saturday night.
2
Times that Bob lost his collar.
(I think it’s cuz he wants something a bit more blingy.)
3
Sleepovers that LC has had.
4
Days since we said goodbye to my sister, bro-in-law
and three nephews.
(They moved to Missouri over the weekend.)
5
Wetzels who are really sad about their departure.
6
Days without rain, forcing me to actually water our garden and potted plants. Sadly, the cilantro may not pull through.
7
Times that Hannah begged me to teach her to crochet. Again.
I considered answering that she needed to ask me at least 70 times 7. But then I remembered that number was about forgiveness, not needlecrafts. Whatev.
I did teach her how to make a chain on Sunday.
And discovered that, coincidentally, 7 is also the number of times that she would fall to the floor screaming that she would “NEVER LEARN HOW TO DO THIS BECAUSE I’M STUPID!!!!!!”
Good times.
8
Days since we attended our first minor league baseball game in over almost a decade.
Kids had a great time – not so much because of the fun of watching the game, but because they had INFLATABLES! And SNACKS!
9
Dollars spent per child in the first two innings of the game.
For this they each got one turn on a climbing wall and a popsicle. I refuse to admit how much we had spent on the kids by the time we left.
10
Days of antibiotics that I am now taking for
the aforementioned tick bite.
Also the number of hours I waited after suspecting infection to actually go to the doctor.
AND the time on the clock when I finally got home from urgent care.
Apparently 10 is my lucky number.
***
Anyway, please forgive me if I’m not around much and/or seem a little scattered. I’m having to relearn how to multitask. A skill that I fear has been permanently erased from my frontal lobe.
Yet another reason why childrearing is for the YOUNG.
PS I wouldn’t have gotten my wound checked at all if it hadn’t been for the urging of my bloggy friend Candy (@CandySteele). The nurse advice I got from her and my sister-in-law Donna finally convinced me. Thanks for keeping me alive, Ladies. Just think of the profundity that everyone would’ve missed otherwise.
15 responses so far ↓
1 Jo@Mylestones // Jun 1, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Welcome back to my world, Steph! You don’t have to be YOUNG, per se, just a little less productive. Ok, a LOT less productive.
And wow, glad you’re gonna be alive to enjoy the summer. Ticks. Ewww.
And why you holding out on Bob? Get the dog some bling. It’s gotta be easier than letting him come up with a new collar himself…say, another turtle carcass?
Jo@Mylestones’s last blog post..So Darlin’ Save the Last Flush For Me…
2 Wendy // Jun 1, 2009 at 2:38 pm
You know, there’s something to be said for summer school…
Wendy’s last blog post..Life is Funny – Burnt offerings
3 Kim Ice // Jun 1, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Yes, my mom sent us to summer school every summer. Not for make up but for the exciting fun classes we could take (creative writing?). Also, we took swimming lessons at the local pool all summer long. I know, the Dark Ages. But still, there just wasn’t that much to do. And the rare movie.
4 Screwed Up Texan // Jun 1, 2009 at 5:42 pm
What’s up with the ticks this year? Of all the years we’ve been hiking and camping, this year is the worst of bringing home ticks. Oh, wait, there was that time last year the babysitter mistakened a tick on my kid’s head as a louse and shaved all his hair off. Good times.
Screwed Up Texan’s last blog post..Fun at Cinco de Mayo on the Thirtieth of May
5 thefarmerfiles // Jun 1, 2009 at 6:49 pm
LOL we just went to a Padres game, and we only have 2 kids. I know what you mean.
thefarmerfiles’s last blog post..In the Same Boat: San Diego Maritime Museum
6 Annie K // Jun 1, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Every family needs at least ONE drama queen. Sounds like you have yours.
Annie K’s last blog post..NASCAR, Smokey Burnouts And A Garden
7 the domestic fringe // Jun 1, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Sounds like you’re a busy woman! Hope tick bite is better.
No, you’re not the only one who has outgrown her pants….unfortunately.
-FringeGirl
8 sherri // Jun 1, 2009 at 7:13 pm
My middle son was my drama KING, so I feel your pain there my sista!
And yeah, 3 kids at home all summer can be a bit stressful. Mine were always fighting (as in “touching” the other’s ear, or toe or elbow, then the real fight would ensue!)
I don’t envy you right now.
But I’m very thankful you’re among the living, thanks to your friends.
sherri’s last blog post..Getting Away From It All
9 justanotherdayinparadise // Jun 1, 2009 at 8:28 pm
please buy that poor dog some bling! remember, some of us would love to have summers off…most of the time anyway
take care of that tickbite! ticks haven’t been too bad here…so far…
10 Beth // Jun 1, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Ticks! Ack! I found one on me this week.
Then today a giant ant tried to run away with my computer. I think the insects have joined the animal conspiracy. All I’m sayin’ is….don’t trust Bob, collar or no.
And don’t worry, as soon as you adjust to the kids being home…it will be time to get them ready to go back to school.
Beth’s last blog post..Home
11 Candy // Jun 1, 2009 at 11:34 pm
About this crocheting thing – I always wanted to learn but nobody wanted to teach me. In college I bought a book and taught myself – MAKING A DOILY!! How dumb/smart is that? So give her a book, stick her in a room with string and a teeny hook, and she’ll come out in the fall.
And you would have sent me to urgent care in a heartbeat, right?
Drama queen? That apple’s mighty close to that tree…..
Candy’s last blog post..Our Waterfront, er, back Property
12 Helen // Jun 2, 2009 at 10:17 am
I taught myself to crochet, too, but I only do scarves and granny squares. She has a good point about locking her in her room with a crochet needle, yarn, and a book until fall. They have kits for kids, too…
I am glad you are alive. I forgive you for not checking out my blog in a while. Just take care of yourself. Feel better. Allow the children to live. Maybe let your daughter crochet something for Bob….the dog….
Helen’s last blog post..Keep Asking
13 Evenshine // Jun 2, 2009 at 10:27 am
LOVE how this is categorized under “tick bite”. Anyone who has a category for ticks is hard core. Glad you got it checked out. And- good luck with summer.
Evenshine’s last blog post..Another comes
14 katdish // Jun 2, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Five – number of buzzards in my back yard right now.
One – number of neighborhood cats that will not be returning home today.
Sad, but true…
I’m gonna quote you on twitter about your pants not fitting you.
You’re welcome.
katdish’s last blog post..The Neighbor
15 faemom // Jun 2, 2009 at 9:16 pm
And to think this is only the beginning!
faemom’s last blog post..A New Talent: Nothing
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