Best four words in your mom vocabulary: First Day Of School.
I’ve had this day marked on my calendar since the last day of school. It’s been a wonderful, adventurous, lazy and looooooonnnngg summer. There were days only wine and hope helped me through the day. I’m a creature of routine and schedules. It’s the only way I function. I’m a mother of two military kids who experienced their first full summer at our new location. With everything still new to us, there was a boatload to explore, landmarks to visit, and play dates to make.
I’m exhausted. I need my little critters back in school and my “me time” given back wrapped in a red bow. Off to school, young Jedi Padawans. May the Force be with you ….and when you return, I’ll have snacks waiting.
Do you hear that? Shhh. It’s silence, and it’s beautiful. It’s just me….and my calendar. That’s right, my calendar. It’s time to plot the next month of activities…and, appointments, travel, TDYs, visitors, Open Houses, soccer practices, soccer games, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, homework time, piano lessons. Oh, a few things for me: My job, working out, tennis team and a plethora of appointments.
The beautiful silence turns into mental exhaustion while holding a dry erase marker. The beginning of school signals the beginning of schedule juggling, carpooling, endless preparation, calendar consulting and unavoidable family management drama.
In one quiet moment, I’m so sad to say goodbye to summer. I want to catalog my summer memories and the things that I will miss the most.
Golf tee times
Sunflowers
Ponds, ducks and lily pads
Amusement parks and roller coasters
Sun-kissed skin
Cartoon-watching Wednesdays
Wet towels
Skinned knees
Late sleepers
Fireworks
Summer movies
Grass stains
Ice-pop wrappers
Pancakes for dinner
Park hunting
Diving boards
Discoveries
Rock gardens
Lemonade stands
Impromptu soccer games
Slip’N Slides
Extended family
10pm sunsets
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