I’m sneaking in before I get back to preparing for tomorrow’s big day. What big day is that you ask? It’s the first day back to school! Peanut is starting third grade and Ladybug will begin her last year in elementary…fifth grade. Wow…where did the summer go?? Did summer fly by so quickly because I was so busy working outside the house again? Was it because the kids were constantly spending the nights away enjoying their summer vacation (without me)? This summer has definitely flown by.
SIDE NOTE…I have to admit, summer this year was not so much fun for me. It was way too hot and yucky feeling out and since I rarely got to go to the pool, lake, or beach this year to cool off, I was just miserable outdoors. Summer time is fiscal year end time at work so it has been pretty hectic; leaving me exhausted and overheated by the time I got home (due to NO A/C in the truck) after nearly an hour commute. My weekends just felt all rushed because I was trying to get everything done that I missed during the week .
Soccer practice has started back up again for Ladybug so back to being a Soccer Mom I have become. Trying to squeeze productive reading/writing time in while snapping quick shots of her in motion. Last night we had school orientation and met the new teachers. Now Little One is counting down the months to Fall ’11 when she can finally go to school like the big kids. Peanut will likely either take guitar lessons or do wrestling this fall and Little One wants to do gymnastics. As a working mother of 3 kids and a husband who works unpredictable construction hours (he’s an electrician), talk about some crazy chaos!
As I think about how the summer went, how we’re ending the summer (we failed to keep our planned family vacation this summer) , and what’s left to prepare for the school year (doing laundry and buying those last minute school supplies and groceries), I can’t help but wonder if I’ll be able to efficiently manage the family schedules, needs, and wants for all.
I mean, as much as I want to believe I could be one of those “super mom’s” we read about on other blogs or on TV who can do it all (cook, clean, tutor kids, bake goodies, exercise to stay slender, are super attentive to hubby, AND work all at the same time while toting their baby in a snuggly or breastfeeding their kid) I’m no super mom…I’m just me, doing what I can, when I can.
BUT…I do want to make some changes in our daily routine to make things easier and happier for all.
- I need less chaotic (and loving, if that’s possible) mornings with the kids.
- I need Me Time for meditation or exercise to get my day going.
- I need to figure out a better home maintenance plan so I’m not jamming it all into one day on the weekend.
- I need to stick to my guns and get those kids more active in cleaning around the house so hubby and I aren’t stressed out doing it all.
- I need to make sure that each kid gets their OWN night of activity so this mom can get to places unrushed and let the kid know it’s THEIR moment to shine without another sibling competing for attention.
- I need to do some better meal planning and freezer cooking to help on busy nights on the run.
- I need to take more pictures like I did when I was home with them (TONS of pictures were taken for each month of the year).
- I need to better plan for next year’s family vacation so we don’t have to miss it like we did this year.
So now that I’ve gotten that off my mind and recorded…I’m off to finish the last minute details. (Thank goodness I took tomorrow off!)
Do you find yourself pulled in multiple directions when the kids go back to school?
What are you doing differently this year?
