The Trouble with Summer

The messes they can make!

The trouble with summer is that you have double the work and half the time.  I actually broke a sweat mothering yesterday; I'm not kidding.  Up, down, in, out, over, under, in the car, out of the car, back in the car, dishes, mopping, dishes, vacuuming, project, swimming, laundry, laundry, refereeing, laundry, dishes again, project, project, reading, crashing.

That's how it went.  I'm actually a little stiff and sore today.

P.S.  If I can ever find the time, I'll tell you about my worst parenting day ever.

Oh, What do you do in the Summertime?

How do I know it is summer?  We have already had a family BBQ and swim party.  We have already taken a family cartrip.  We started swim team.  My daughter is already begging for a sleepover with her best friend in the whole wide world.  ("Pleeeeeeease?") We are all a tiny bit sunburned.  I'm wearing my swimsuit.  I'm sweaty.  And tomorrow is the beginning of summer movies.

Those are the signs of summer around here, and it's only been a week.  Whew!

And somewhere, amid all that chaos, we already created a favorite memory for me.  On Friday, when the kids ran out of things to do and began bickering, I called them into the dining room.  "Come here, kiddos and bring the book!" I insisted.  Logan dutifully grabbed Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, and I convinced a mopey Griffin to participate with the promise of something special. 

I handed him all the blankets out of the ottoman, and then he and I hung them over and around the dining room table.  Then the three of us, armed with snacks, pillows, and a good book, climbed into our little "rat's nest" underneath and read an hour away--with no bickering.  Imaginations only allowed.

And imaginations at work is the best summer sign of all!