Oh How I’ve Missed You Sweet Summertime
This, my friends, is a glorious day. A day I’ve been looking forward to for quite some time now. A day that will change life as I know it, temporarily at least. For you see, it’s the final day of school around these parts. And do you know what that means for me?
- It means I’ve racked my weary brain for the last time trying to stuff lunch boxes with offerings that are both delicious and nutritious.
- It means I don’t have to leave the house ten minutes too early so as to avoid driving behind my dreadfully slow and completely frustrating next door neighbor. Dreadfully slow because she honest to goodness drives at least ten miles under the speed limit. Completely frustrating because she backed out of a carpool with me because our teenage daughters had a bit of a falling out. So now we drive two vehicles with half as many peope inside. It’s a 22 mile rountrip jaunt that we now both set out on twice each day. On our way to the exact same place. At what would be the exact same time if I didn’t make every effort to avoid following her along this route five days each week. I really shouldn’t say it but in all honesty it makes me wish I had a rotten egg rocket attached to my minivan. Oops. Did that slip out?
- It means I don’t have to deal with my not-so-morning-friendly teenager who would rather memorize the phone book than drag herself out of bed at 6 am.
- It means I have a six week hiatus from arguing with my ten-year-old over what is and what is not suitable school attire. And we’re not arguing about shorts that are too short. Oh no. This child has a passion for fashion and she tires easily of wearing the same clothing item (think jeans, or shorts) to school for too long. In the dead of winter, for instance, she’ll frequently decide that she’s bored with pants and instead she wants to sport her too cute denim miniskirt and sequined tank. Call me crazy but a mom has to put her foot down sometimes right? Well not anymore. Not this mom. Not until 5th grade anyway.
- It means that the hectic cluster of class parties, plays, picnics, poetry readings and performances has finally wrapped up and won’t come around again until this time next year.
-It means that the kids and I can look forward to blissfully unscheduled summer days. It means we’ll awake because the light is creeping through the blinds, not because the alarm says it’s time. It means we’ll enjoy fresh strawberry smoothies on the patio instead of cold cereal in a bowl. It means swimming pools and sleeping in and library book clubs and sleeping in and homemade ice cream, and oh yeah, did I mention sleeping in?
Summertime and I are friends that go way back. And though she doesn’t come around as often as I wish she would, she’s always a welcome guest in this house. I hope she’ll come in and stay awhile.
I love summer time too….I teach at a year round school, however, so that means that my summer doesn’t start until the end of June. Six weeks to go……I love your blog. You seem like a very down to earth, fun mom. God Bless.
AMEN and AMEN! I can second EVERY ONE OF THOSE THINGS! Except the slow neighbor part…that stinks, but it sure is funny! Do you have your own pool? We go down to Purple Heart Park alot during the summer. We should meet sometime! Happy Summer!
So reading this I had a total panic that I sent my 5 year old to school with no lunch today. But my babysitter had made it, sigh of relief. I’m jealous of your unscheduled summer. I continue working but kids go to camp, which is totally fun. Of course if said 5 year old didn’t all of a sudden have bad separation anxiety…hm. Being a parent is fun isn’t it? Never a dull moment
AMEN!
Oh the lunchtime woes…why is it so hard? But I feel the exact. same. way.
I look forward to summertime too, even though it usually doesn’t mean much change for us. But it’s so nice for the kids to be able to play and run around outside, and I hate being cooped up in the house during the winter. And this year, we will probably even get to have a ‘vacation’ from work and daycare for a while, so summertime will be even much more fun. We still have 2 weeks left of school though.
You guys were on my mind this morning as you all end the current school year, YEA, enjoy!
Yea…..the first thing that came to mind was that song, “Schools out for Summer!”
Summer is definitely a great time…although it doesn’t change our routine yet either as my kids are not in school yet!
But pools, warm weather, shorts, flip-flops and cute dresses are what I look forward to every year!
I was thinking of the HSM2 song. “What time is it? Party time!” Have a great summer!
Aw, summer - so many wonderful memories to make! Now if only it would stay around 80 degrees…
Our school year does not end untill 6/6, so we are still in the midst of the performances and parties, and it is exhausting.
I feel exactly the same way about summer as you described in this post, and I can’t wait to do a bit of sleeping in myself.
And the neighbor? Hello? They are teenagers…show them how to handle the conflict and not run away from it by dropping the carpool…that is just such a waste of time, both of you driving! I mean, if you wanted my opinion and all.
Oh I can not wait until school is out here I can see June 18th creeping closer and closer!