Lesson Learned

Next year, I won't do this to myself. Next year, they can be content with swimming and running through the sprinklers. Next year, I'll stock up on Popsicles. Next year, we'll draw with chalk and blow bubbles. Next year, I'll lounge around and read trashy novels while they do all those things.

I'll say it again, this summer is kicking my ASS! The girls are signed up in one sort of activity or another. We are on the go, EVERYDAY! I thought since we weren't taking any trips this summer it was crucial to keep them occupied close to home, so that they wouldn't get bored. I didn't know that I was going to run myself ragged in the process.

And in the moments that we do actually have downtime, well what's downtime? It's nonexistent, that's what it is. Because if they are not being entertained at VBS, piano, dance, art, princess, horse, gymnastics or cooking camp, it's apparently up to me to entertain them. So I do. I paint, I jump, I play the Wii, I read stories, I dance, I feed, I TIRED! And cranky.

And if I am able to convince them to have a quiet time, it doesn't last long because the movie and popcorn get set up in the playroom, which is directly above my room, which means I can hear every footstep, which means a nap is impossible, which leads to thoughts of finding the architect and punching him. I really miss when they used to nap :-(

The big girls are gone, have been gone for too long. And once again I realize how much I miss them and how much the little ones miss them. And how much I depend on them to maintain my sanity. Because if they were around I would be off the hook for most of the above listed activities.

I think the little ones are sick of me. I might be a wee bit sick of them. We're like a bunch of old biddies snapping at each other all the time. It's no wonder they are so excited when Daddy gets home from work.

It's been a nonstop summer of them, them, them. And I'm in desperate need of me, me, me. Seriously, I have a gift certificate for a much needed massage that their schedules won't allow me to use. I need to be around some people taller than 4 feet. I need to have a meal where I'm not cutting someone's meat. I need to have a conversation about something other than Dora or sea animals. I need to stop subconsciously dressing myself in the same color as the girls, especially after the man at Barnes and Noble thought we were so cute! I need to fix my hair, put on some lip gloss. I need to go see a rated R movie, or crap even PG-13.

I love my girls. My kids are my life, my life is my kids. But sometimes I need my life to be MY life.

And so tonight I'm heading out to dinner with the ladies. And I don't care how tired I am, I'm going. And I'm going to eat, drink and be merry.

And tomorrow hopefully, I'll be a wee bit rejuvenated for our jam packed day. I know, I signed up for it. But damn it, NEXT YEAR...