6. Is it summer time yet? Dig into your archives and share some favorite summer moments you’d like to relive.
I am counting down the days until Summer.
Not because of the beautiful weather…although that’s nice too.
Not because my kids will be home all day everyday…Lord knows that’s more difficult than I had anticipated.
Not because we’re going on any beachy vacations.
And certainly not because I’m tired of snow. We’ve had ONE snow day this year.
I’m counting down the days until Summer because about this time every year my kids stop wanting to GO to school and a couple of them have figured out that when push comes to shove, I can’t physically force them to go to school. Well…I CAN, but I’ve done that before and it traumatizes my day. So I won’t.
I have one child I hold my breath for every. single. morning. Will it be a struggle? Will she go happily? Is she okay?
Another child who goes happily, but randomly decides to try out the first child’s stay home strategy.
The third child has not caught on to the fact that playing the sick card puts me into a terribly uncomfortable guessing game. And I cannot believe he’s the one giving me the least amount of trouble at this point.
The truth of the matter is, I personally don’t mind if my kids need a mental health day. Or if they need an extra sick day to recover from their sick days. My core personality does not feel like I need to pressure my kids to NEVER MISS A DAY OF SCHOOL. I’m pretty relaxed. Hell, if Maile wants to live in her purple bedroom for the rest of her life, I’m happy to continue vacuuming it for her.
The problem is, I have my own anxiety issues. I DON’T WANT TO TALK TO THE FRONT DESK LADY. I don’t want to explain why the kids are absent. I don’t want to email the teachers. I don’t want a letter alerting me of too many absences. I don’t want to sit down with the school counselor or the principal or the lunch lady or ANYONE.
I want to be a recluse. In my home. With the Internet.
Sure I put on my pleasant face, I wave and behave as regular adults should behave, but I don’t really want to be thrown into the position to “advocate” for anyone. That’s not my area. For heavens sake, I can’t even order a pizza without a fluttering of nerves in my stomach (or is that hunger?) that’s anticipating a pick up from the 17-year-old delivery boy.
My kids need Summer. They’re falling apart over here.
I need Summer.
I need it like a small kitten needs a lactating mother.
How many more sleeps?
Kimberly says
I understand you completely.
My son is in grade one so it’s still more about fun and who can fart the loudest while the teacher is trying to read. He doesn’t put up much of a fuss going like he did when he first started in JK. He screamed every single day and his teacher had to literally pull or push him into the school. I died a little each day. I wanted so badly just to keep him at home.
Do you get anxious with phone calls too? It takes me forever to make a phone call. Like what’s the worst that could happen – oh like a million things…tripping over my words for one.
Spring is almost here. Hang in!!!
BalancingMama - Julie says
(Didn’t mean to link up twice!)
I am looking forward to the schedule-less summer myself. I hate packing lunch and the morning chaos.
Andrea says
I get this so much. I need a break from advocating and scheduling and throwing the hammer down about homework and studying, etc. Our kids get themselves out the door, but the behind-the-scenes work that falls on me – gah. I need the break, too.
kelley says
I’ve always liked having my kids home all day. I need me some summer too.
carol says
I agree.. Sometimes it’s just not having to deal with school that makes summer so great! I love the shot with the kid flying through the air.
madamdreamweaver says
Summer looks like something fun at your house!
May says
I can’t believe your little guy is not the one counting the minutes until this school year ends! I am so glad though.