All the school-bound children were released from their academic shackles this week.
They were twice as twitchy as usual because the make-up-snow-days of school did not make the children 5 days smarter. Instead, it rendered the teachers unable to prepare one more week of studies. Let's just say there was a lot of quizzing, game-playing, assemblies and movie watching. Also, they gave the children popsicles with enough red dye #40 to last them the summer. And frankly, I approve of everything the teachers did.
But now the children are free.
It's not that we don't love our children.
It's just that life rarely offers smooth transitions.
NASA isn't here to coach moms into summertime "reentry," reminding us that our bodies have winter-atrophied and gently guiding us into swimwear and dodging the ice cream truck.
My five year old is accustomed to preschool "circle time." I'm not planning on recreating preschool. I'll probably give her a round hula hoop (it's a circle, right?) and call it good.
If you are a mom who keeps the same schedule year-round and has no transitions in life ever, then this post is not for you. You are amazing enough. You have found your zen. Off you go. Life, love and happiness to you.
But for all the moms who already feel like they're not creative enough or organized enough or loving enough and are scrubbing Pinterest for healthy snacks and casually surveying Facebook friends for swim classes (yes, that was me) all in the hopes that we won't watch television for twelve hours a day... I hold your hand.
First, I don't know the first thing about organization. It's not my strength. I observe what works for others and modify it for myself. My strength is encouragement and creative enterprises. This means that I hate for people to feel badly about themselves and I'll probably draw a happy picture to make them feel good. Which is why I blog and design. Can't help myself.
So I'm not here to give a how-to. Just some suggestions.
I'm here to say "Welcome to summer."
1. A hydrated mom is a happy mom.
Load up your pantry with happy beverages to keep your thirst quenched.
I love finding quirky teas at Trader Joes and steeping them for iced tea. I don't add sugar, but I do throw in some mint from my garden. I feel very posh when I drink it, like I'm at a fancy restaurant.
Iced coffee is amazing.
Lacroix water is fun.
Heck, try some vintage sodas from World Market. They won't particularly hydrate you, but they'll make you smile.
2. Trump your trouble. Plan your pleasure.
Give yourself and your children one thing to look forward to each day and one thing (which you dread) to address.
My daughter would rather put a splinter in her eye than do math. I plan on helping her with math this summer. I also have a closet bag full of craft ideas and adventures we can do to offset her inevitable anger with me for providing math problems during summer break.
Same goes for moms.
Purge a closet, then get a movie from the library.
Hose down the minivan, then get a Starbucks latte. Whatever floats your boat.
3. Lower expectations.
If it feels overwhelming, it probably is too complicated.
If you're not smiling anymore, your heart is gone. Find it.
Also: Naps are good.
4. Good news: Your children will remember the simplest, cheapest, grossest, weirdest activity this summer and it probably will have very little to do with you.
Example: My parents took me and my sister Noel up the east coast one summer to show us Plymouth Rock (boring) and a host of other incredible places. I do recall a lot of fascinating sights, but mostly I remember seeing the lower half of the Statue of Liberty (we were driving, a truck got in our way and I had to peer under its trailer.) I also remember a waiter who spilled a great deal of wine in a woman's lap. Also: I bought a five dollar stuffed animal. It was a white seal.
Plan on your children saying that the best part of Niagara Falls was the dead toad they saw squished in the road.
You get the point.
5. Trick other moms into being your friend.
If you're not particularly athletic, casually invite your marathon-happy neighbor to your house. Take notes on how to raise children who are not lethargic.
We're in this together, people. There are no perfect mom awards.
6. Respond to tiredness.
Hire a sitter.
Take a nap.
Drink coffee.
7. Do something good for yourself. Repeat.
You can't give what you don't have.
Plan movie nights with friends.
Load up your library book requests of those hard to reach titles online so that when a book *finally* arrives in your cue, it feels like Christmas Day.
Shop at Trader Joes. Buy everything that is healthy and then offset that with Chocolate Covered Sea Salt Almonds.
Join a running club to offset aforementioned chocolate almonds.
Have fun, everyone. It may be a little funny starting a new season, but if you keep your head about you, you might make some fantastic memories.
