Happiness

Today I feel so happy. And I love watching my kids feel happy too. I looked at their beautiful faces all day long and just kept thinking what contentedness I saw on their faces.

And I appreciate it more now because it comes around less often at this age. More resistant is the eldest to want as much family and cottage time and the other two just follow whatever he says or does. But once he (and they ) are up here…they completely all let their guard down. Relax, be kids, wear old cottage clothes and ratty old bathrobes. Shoes and socks that don’t match two sizes too small.

I loved seeing the boys spend all day together. Enjoying every minute of their time. Laughing on the tube. Tumbling over. Relaxing with us on the boat in the summer sun. It has been awhile that the two of them are alone together and it was fun to watch. Beauty went on a big hike up here with a ski friend’s family. It was fun to be four today.

Then when the girls came back from the hike their smiling faces and running for the boat for their tube rides. Gymnastic shows and dances. In their little bikinis in the dark on the trampoline. Laughing. Happy.

Chase mowing the lawn and the big hill. He caught my eye and we smiled both of us. I know I am his Mother but I honestly thought I have never seen such a gorgeous young man. His long hair curling over his hat. His shorts with underwear rim showing. His tan skin. The smile and look on his face…relaxed..undefensive..in his element outdoors doing something physically hard.

Bear’s kisses and hugs today and squeals of joy. His soft blond hair and light blue eyes shining and his deep and sincere laughter. I know it sounds weird but something was just right today. We were all in sync.

I love that Trent gives us every weekend to get it right.

And I loved the dynamic this summer too of being alone with Beauty for 4 days in the evenings after work. Spending time with her and her alone. Her friends, her movies, her food ,her ways.

I loved that they boys when to Savvy’s house to be with her family for the week and tennis camp. They felt so important to be invited and hosted and taken care of. They felt so grown up to take the train alone there. Get to know what it was like to live in their family for a bit. Experience something new and different. It was an experience that really made their summer in many ways. Feeling so connected to their family and like cousins, being independent from us, getting to try new things, eating awesome food, hanging out with their buddies. Getting better at their tennis game.

My boys bonded a lot on that trip. Together. They came back with lots of stories, and smiles and love. We were so grateful to the CDF gang for their warm and loving hospitality. For the close friendship between us all to go to the trouble of having our boys join their own 5 kids.

So today was just really really happy. Maybe it had something to do with the sun shining on our faces and the warm wind after a cool summer. Jumping in the crisp lake and sun tanning on the boat in the sun. Maybe it had to do with the friends we hosted last night and the feeling it left us. Maybe it was the way school started and they appreciate more their time with us even though they miss their friends. Maybe it is the sounds of the fall crickets in the air in the evening.

Maybe it is because this summer was a summer of achievement, Beauty now slaloms on one waterski (getting up too) which is probably the hardest thing in watersports to achieve and now all three have accomplished it.. Maybe it is because both boys studied hard and got their boating licenses. We all learnt to do laundry and our home is the most orderly it has ever been. Grass is now mowed by family and we all take our rotations in the kitchen.

Order has done us well. I get it now.

And mindset can be changed and altered. It can too.

Today I woke up after a crazy crazy hectic week and 3-4 weeks ahead with even more stress at work and school. The transition the adjustment, the sheer chaos on many levels.

Today I woke up and decided to have a beautiful and wonderful day.

And quite simply:

I did.

It is 9:17pm nor have I had dinner yet not even a minute of nagging has occurred. Sausages are on the BBQ, yo man pasta on the stove, cupcakes baking in the oven and homemade Cesar salad being tossed. Yummy.

Aug 31-the maybe last day of a beautiful beautiful summer. Maybe the first of a beautiful and rich Fall.

I have a Happy Place and it is here. I am so grateful that I get to come here every weekend and literally feel like. I am unloading stress from me and my family and leaving back in the city. And escape…ever week to a place that makes me and my family our happiest.

I quote our good friend Michael last night as he toasted and told our kids” There is no greater gift to a family than cottage life. I had it all my life with my parents and have it again now bringing up my own kids at my parent’s cottage. As I look back and forward all of the best moments of my life were at the cottage and I cannot wait to give that life to my own children”

After he said this we could tell it really really affected our kids. They soaked it all in and I think came to the realization that this does not come easy. The expenses, the care of a second home, the maintenance, the juggling. But they also came to the realization of how grateful we should all be to have it and to be able to afford it and enjoy it and make to the time to use it together. They saw this place through the eyes of someone else and realized it's magic in their lives. And realized how happy it would makes them for many years forward.


 

 

The Spanx Workout

Spanx is God’s gift to woman in my humble opinion. Every woman who has anything close to curves, breasts or a butt should own some. AKA all womankind.

Forget all the giraffes and zebras in Noah’s Ark that I guess God gave as gifts (right?)…Spanx is way way up there.As God’s gift to us all

Honestly anyone over 40 yrs. really needs to wear Spaxn when that are wearing a tight fitting dress (with very few exceptions) I just personally feel that after 40yrs even the thinnest of frames need some smoothing out. Don’t you agree?

I saw a women this week with the nicest dress on ever. So nice in fact (and so missing a spanx sheath dress underneath) that I wanted to go up to her and say “It is unbelievable what a little piece of elastic cloth would do for that dress. Don’t walk…RUN…to your closet department store Girl”

Of course I just said “I like your dress”

And of course then she will just go on and on and on having little butt bulges in the back sticking out all over the place under the pretty outfit.

Anyways I would not consider anymore not wearing these babies pretty much with most outfits. Even workout clothes. As I write this I am getting depressed as I realize that spanx is more and more needed as I age. Soon I will be wearing it to bed! (never! I am a naked bed girl most days of the week)That being said if I got divorced and was with a new man..I might need to wear it to bed and even in the shower! Thank God I have been married to the same man for 17 yrs.

All that to say I realized something about spanx the other day as I was getting ready for my workout and putting a little number on.

 I realized that my workout was already done by the time it made it onto my body.

 

Is it that I buy too small spanx??????????????????????????

Is is possible that my butt is  getting bigger????????????????????????

I don’t remember spanx being that hard to get on before??????????????????

 

It must be because I don’t have my cleaning lady anymore and my new housekeeper is running my spanx in the dryer behind my back. That must be it. (PS-everything is my other housekeeper who quit’s fault. Absolutely everything).

 

I mean these things are made to be tight but seriously to be totally out of breath by the time it is on? Is this normal? I mean I could not even take my blood pressure as the instructions clearly say “never take reading after a workout?” Did my spanx workout qualify? Is that why I have high blood pressure in the mornings after I am dressed? I am going to call my doctor immediately with this new piece of information. Yes I think that is it.

Anyways two lessons to these posts: 1) wear spanx-please 2) cancel your membership to the gym and just buy it two sizes too small.

 

And NO I am not a sales rep for this company. But maybe I should be.

Inviting Chaos

It was funny the other night when we were out at a restaurant with 16 others there was one friend who had one son. The rest of us had anywhere from 2-4 kids each. She was observing that 6 h. evening a lot and turned to us and said at the end of it:

Why did you all invite chaos into your lives exactly?

We all thought it was hilarious as of course we totally got what she meant, we also realized that she had no clue how wonderful how that chaos could be. But most of us understood exactly what she was talking about as we ask ourselves that question many a time going to sleep at night.

There she was all evening with her one little son. Quite calm and quite obedient. Completely in tune with her son’s feelings, needs, reactions, wants. Snuggling him at every moment she got, him coming towards her for extra hugs. Politely asking for an extra soda and getting it.

And there we all were without 2, 3 or 4 kids and just basically juggling balls in the chaotic air surrounding us. We actually all thought the evening was calm and marvelous, but for her she thought it was a circus! Drinks spilling, interrupting, no money for extra soda, no time for tuning in.

At one point on the boat we played a game with the kids and asked them to each choose one word that describes their Dads and then their Moms. All the Dads got “Cool, fun, easy, not strict, and laughing.

Four Moms got the following words:

Organized

Strict

Tired

Nagger.

 

The Mom with the only child got: snuggly.

 

How cute!!!!

We all laughed all night about this (including her)

She said she becomes way less snuggly and calm when she and her son do play dates with other Moms. All the sudden her kid starts jumping and wrestling, and talking back and not listening. All the sudden she starts screaming, and nagging and ordering them to be quiet and stop fighting. She asked us if it is like this for us every day?

We all answered yes. Our kids love each other, get along, play together, but it’s a different life. You juggle many needs and not just one set. You sacrifice more…and play less…you clean more and snuggle less. You have way way less money and way less time.

But you get more love too. And you give more love.

Both situations are equally beautiful and equally authentic.

I remember as a kid I was an only child 5 days a week and then my two half-brothers on the weekend and often my young Uncle and Aunt too. The weekend had no similarity to the weeks. None at all. My Mom and I during the week used to quietly lie together in her bed and chat about the day. On weekends I barely spoke to her

I currently at work have two colleagues that both just gave birth to their second children with 2 yrs. olds at home. The big question they have emailed a few times to this “so called parenting expert” is:

Does it get easier?

My answer:

Not at all. Never. If anything it gets harder.

But you get used to it. And easy is fairly overrated. There are other things in life to covet than calm and peace. If you don’t expect one to be anything like two..and you are a master of ways to manage chaos..you will do just fine my dears and roll with the punches. And then when you get comfortable-you will  like it all so much that  you will likely move onto number three.

(That being said we did not convince our dinner friend to move over to our territories. She said she likes peace and calm very much and was very very content to be described as snugglyJ

Lost (and Found!)

 

Lost (and found)

Yup…I lost my daughter (and her friend ) this week.

Talk about fear I tell you. In the 15.5 yrs I have been a Mom it happened once (with her again!). Now it happened twice. What is it about girls??? I thought boys were supposed to be the harder gender to raise?

So first day of school for the boys and all went smoothly-great day. We go Chase , his friend, Beauty and her friend to do some errands at the big shopping Mall. Nothing out of the ordinary. We all split up (as of Beauty turning 11 yrs old if she is with a friend we do this as long as their parent is in accordance with this.

Although Beauty gets to split up she has to check in often…like every 45 minutes we meet up, I approve the clothes she wants to buys etc. We have done this many times. This summer we bought her a 2 month cell phone for summer and she will get a permanent one for high school. PS-The phone SUCKS! PSS-So does IPHONE 5 what good is a phone that keeps it charge for 2 hours only (god I wish Steve Jobs was alive to see what Apple has done to his beautiful iPhone)

So take two malfunctioning phones , take a daughter who doesn’t seem to realize vcmail means you should leave a message..Take two girls who are so carried away by their shopping that they don’t even realise that the doors of the story have closed around them and that it is 9:15 on!!!!!! Take a Mom whose nerves are a bit on edge because first week of school….has always had super dependable and reliable kids so this kind of thing is unheard of around here……all this combined together led me to believe that something BAD had happened.

I kept my cool and by anxiety under control from 8:15-:8:45pm and kept telling myself to breathe and relax. Continue shopping. I managed to try on any buy three outfits from Lululemon. 8:50 rolls around and still no answer on her phone and my heartbeat begins to quicken. I start not being able to think clearly…I go from boutique to boutique that I think they might be in (note to self never wear high heeled shoes when you think any possibility of losing your daughter at the mall).

By then I meet up with my son and his friend (15.5 yrs. old) and they can clearly see by 8:57 (3 minutes before all stores close) I am beginning to really worry. 8:59 tears are in my eyes and starting to stream dwn my face and I get into my panic mode (happens very seldomly but when it does I am quite paralyzed) Can’t think straight, can't make decisons, etc…It is rare situations have happened in my life in panic mode without Hubby there (emergency surgery, lost daughter when little in park, choking etc)..

Here I was in silent panic mode teas streaming down my face in middle of mall about to close and missing two little girls (11 yrs old but still). In my mind there was no chance at all my daughter could lack this much judgment-so against her usual character.

Chase and friend take over 9:01pm. Drop all their shopping bags, wallets and phones on ground in middle of mall near my feet and run to find security office. Describe both girls in detail and give names and request that be broadcasted across the mall in both languages for them to report to security. When I hear those names being announced this deepened my panic. A mother’s worst nightmare.

At this precise moment of announcement a guy I used to work with who still works in the field,but I have not seen in two years calls out my name “Hi Tarina!”. Young..gorgeous…sweet..smart…we used to chat all the time and hang out at lunch sometimes and talk about my kids and family. He about his life. Good good guy. I saw him and I just lost it.

Tears rolling down my cheeks “I have lost my daughter!!!” and he goes into full search mode with his friend..Taking my cell number (dead cell!) having me describe her. Running across mall with his friend searching.

Chase and his friends running cross mall too. By this time I am up at security being told that by 9:15pm we need to call the police. When he said these word my entire world stopped. I cannot even describe this feeling. My mind went into full action mode and out of panic  mode (call news producer brother and get this broadcasted all over the nation, ask the security to lock all the exits, call husband and have him come search, call my company and have all employees come search, call the rich guy at my lake and have him prepare money for two ransoms)

And then 9:17pm with a security guards by their sides…I see her. I see them.

And I honestly did not know if I should run towards her and hold her forever or scream at her and beat her up. I chose hug her and get really really angry .

I have never been so relieved. I made her apologize to three security guards and personally phone my colleague and tell him she was found and apologize. I decided no consequence but a big big big life lesson that we used at family night tonight. Her sincere and heartfelt apologies and her tears of her and her friend were enough. She was hurting as much as I was She had scared her Mamma to bits. She did not realize time had passed and did not realize store had closed when she was at the cash.

Cleary as she had found knee length zebra socks and nothing else mattered.

And her brother…I cannot say enough about this boy that day. He took my breathe away. He took care of me..he took care of her..he acted when I could not..he was resourceful, mature, responsible and brave. He was my hero. I hugged and hugged and kissed his friend too (which I am sure mortified Chase) but it was called for.

In the car afterwards, Chase told me he felt so so so sacred and sick and wanted to throw up all over the place but knew he had to act fast and hold it together.

Teens his age are often hard to live with. He lately is very difficult to live with. Lots of alienation, lots of disrespect, lots of pulling away. Typical teenage stuff but still very hard at times. This situation brought me back to him….brought me back to his core…who he is under all the teenage coolness. Reminded me that in a few years from now…I will get him fully back. When he is good an ready to come back (this is the sad sad part of adolescence that their job is to break away from you. Not in all ways but many ways)

Made me realize that all the value teaching and family bonding, and talk about safety and siblings has all paid off. He shined for us. Came through for us. Was there for us in front of many many onlookers in the mall. And not caring if he looked one bit cool.

He wanted his sister safe. He wanted his Mom well.

This was an awful night and one you could only relate to if you have been through something similar. Just like any hard times-it was good too. Reminded us all of what we treasure most.

And of the preciousness of life and togetherness. And to never ever take that for granted even for a minute.

A minute is all it takes for life to change.

Cherish them. (even if they act sometimes like they don’t cherish you anymore)

 

Nagging Time

I have been a really bad blogger lately. My time has disappeared! Back to School overtakes my life, the preparation, the early mornings, the supplies, the uniforms, the forms to sign at night, getting back into a routine, chores.

Never mind that I have also had some really special events or will have this week (a visit from my Swiss Petal , big pool party today which Mom was sick so could not watch the kids so last minute shuffle, 22 people for pool party tomorrow night. PS tomorrow night I arrive home at 6pm!!!

Yes I am clinically insane.

And I have sooooo much to write about. For starters I lost my daughter in a shopping mall L(Security team and all when stores had closed etc….) Horrible horrible (but slightly funny) story. Cleary she is safe and sound or never would I be writing this silly blog.

Today I however in the 10 short minutes I carved out, bring to you my new number #1 parenting tip:

Nagging Time.

I can’t say it works or does not as it has only been effect in my house for less than 24 hrs. But so far I like it and so do my kids. I personally think it is quite brilliant (aren’t all the idea that last less than 24 hrs?)

This is how is works:  You only nag your kids at a certain hour of the day ( or several periods depending on how disobedience and lazy they really are)

Sometimes the best and most brilliant of ideas are the simplest right?

Do you find yourself being annoyed by your own voice? You finger shaking in the air more often than you give hugs? Do you find you raise your voice often? Become irritable with your kids? Have a constant to do list playing in your head and recite  it often aloud to your children?Do you find that you often don’t stop nagging in any given day unless you are actively engaged in a concentrated activity?

Then Nagging Time is for YOU!!!! Choose a time of day (like for me is after dinner for about 45 mins) and NAG AWAY. Warn them that that hour you will shake your finger, raising your voice and generally be very bitchy and bossy and a control freak. Keep a list all day of all the things you want to nag them about and then fire away at 8-9pm!

Genius eh??? (Why do I get the feeling this post will go virile or become a bestselling book??:)))

And the rest of the time? JUST SHUT UP!

So I tried out my new strategy for the first time yesterday (it has been brewing in my mind for about 10 yrs now and thought time to put into practice). It was second day of school and the Becel was left on counter, crumbs on floor, I knew they had agendas to sign that were not on desk, son had not texted when he went to ice-cream store afterschool, etc..etc..etc…

My instinct was to come down in morning while they were quietly eating breakfast and fire away!!! Nicely but still nagging. Instead I kissed and hugged them both…chatted….said bye and held my tongue. Hard but successful. This earned me two I love you (vs. major eye rolling) before they headed out.

Then came home and all three ignored me as I came in and barely looked up. Said hi under their breath as they stared at the computer, were not doing homework at the time they should have been, were not getting any fresh air outside as instructed. What did I do? Nothing! Just wrote down their crimes on my secret nagging list.

After diner 8pm comes and then it is time to nag! For a full 45 mins! I raise my voice-wag my finger- gets in their face, follow them around house to make chores done properly. Then I call them in one by one and go over the blips of the day, review the rules, tell them what is not working.

Then it is all over.

At 8:45 sharp I stop. At 9:15pm I sweetly tuck them in and refrain from reminding them what time we are driving the next day, to pack lunch, to clean up room, to put laundry outside of room.

Just kisses and hugs.

This time I was rewarded by many I love yous by all three and 2 sweet texts today saying I am the best mommy in there world!!! Something must have worked!!!

I figure if my husband can give up vodka martinis that he has had every night for 30 years surely I can limit my own addition to 1 hr a day. (nagging that is?)I want to do something revolutionary (just like him) and this is IT!

I will let you know how the next few weeks go…if I can keep  it up that is. This takes a hell of a lot of restraint so far I tell you. What will I do with all of this energy??

(FYI-I am considering going up to two sessions of nag time per day each of 45 mins)

Virile!!! Remember! Pass it on and make me famous for my new invention!!!

The Perfect Summer Night

You know what I love best about blogging? Is the capturing of all the fleeting simple beautiful moments of our lives. The ability to take something that meant something and that you loved and bring it to life in words. To not forget about it. The same goes for the less good moments, the sad ones..the hard ones…they get captured (unless you read some of the blogs I read (which I now stopped reading!) where lots of people never seem to feel pain, heartbreak or sadness EVER)

What blogging does is keep records of your true and authentic journey of life. Your existence. It captures the complexity of being human and that in itself is a beautiful thing. It ultimately reminds me that I am far from perfect..far from needing to be..full of strength and weaknesses and able to live fully with many flaws.

By blog last night was about the flaws in my family and wanting to get back to some structure. Today it is about a perfect night amongst that chaos. Paradoxical. Holding two distinct feelings on the same equilibrium. Chaos and peace. Happiness and Unhappiness. To me the best blogs are the ones who capture both…since being human is feeling with both head and heart which often in essence contradict themselves.

I had an evening this week that was totally and utterly perfect in every single way. It was so much fun and I am not sure in my lifetime I have ever felt such a feeling of laughter and lightness and fun. We were invited on the Sweethearts new boat and the Holidays came and a new friends of theirs with her son. So a big boat with 17 people. The weather was absolutely incredible. You know one of those nights that the wind is even warm and the moon is lighting up the entire lake? Breathtaking really.

We left work early and got on the boat at 5:30. Went to the sandbanks part and had drinks (even me!!!)  and lots of yummy snacks and all the kids jumped in the lack and swam for an hour. We just drank and ate and laughed. And I really clicked with the new girl too and she really clicked with me. Our sons clicked with her son too and it was nice to invite someone new into the crowd for that evening.

Then we went a restaurant on the boat and waited 1.5 hrs for our meal!!! But it did not matter as we are all having a blast. The kids had a far away kids table for 11 and they were amazing. Ages ranging from 4-15 and thanks goodness the new boy was in high school which makes it more fun for my older two as well….so that was a bonus. The meal when it finally arrived was amazing..so delicious and we all shared both the food and the bill. Great conversations and jokes. To go down in history was “le petit jerk” and “shut it down Robert!!!!” (he said the way she said it was super sexyJ)))) hahahahahahah!!!!!

(And then Sweetheart decided to kept the kids get ice-cream at 11pm anywaysJ)

The boat ride back at 11pm was the best. We laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed. The four women to the point of peeing our pants. Our two daughters imitated us the whole way and it was hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At least they are learning what good friends do right???? It was truly an example of happiness and lightness that I want my daughter to learn as it is part of me that I cherish that is not always there. The part that says to my Bffs on the boat “Screw soccer and have fun!!!! Skip it!!!!! And they all did and thanked me laterJ))

We arrived under the luminous moon lit yacht club at almost midnight (don’t forget many of us working the next day). From there I took 4 of the older kids with me along with my 3 back to my house for a midnight swim in the pool..a bit of gaming..some popcorn and a sleepover.

The next day Sweetheart texted her 12 yr sold son and said “when shall I come pick you up?”

His answer: “Never”

It was just the perfect night-among many we have had this summer. It stood out in my mind and will forever. There was something very special about it. Something also in acknowledging that our kids are growing and changing and we are adapting. Longer nights, kids table, older kids being able to stay out later than younger kids and having different privileges now. We are all living this crazy life alongside each other and it felt good.

It was all perfect.

And like the boy at my house who never wanted to go home….I never ever want to forget what beautiful friends I have in my life and never take for granted the love they give me and my family. The tennis camps, the boat rides, the remembering to call about the smallest details. The laughter, the love, the sharing of our kids and our lives. Creating PG, and sharing homes and hearts. Learning and loving.

Family is everything.

Friends are everything too and something every family should have alongside them to heighten the joy and capture the sadness. Friends are the icing on the beautiful cake. I have always always known this but for some reason this summer…my cake is even more succulent and delicious.

It brought it home this week at work when a woman I know who very sadly lost her husband last year to a sudden heart attack (he was 38!!!) and they had just blended their two families 7 yrs. ago and had a baby togetherL(( She said in a training she was giving to a big audience with tears rolling down her cheeks:

“Always have an extended family. Always. Treasure your friends and love them fully. And be loved by them. Never ever depend on the crazy notion that your spouse will be there forever. Have many many soulmates in your life and let them in. Don’t ever treat your friends and  extended family, the ones you truly love anyways, as second class citizens. Make them part of your A team alongside your immediate family. And teach your kids to do the same”

Although this scared me to bits it made a ton of sense.

And I realized that it has always been the way I live my life. This summer I took it up a notch higher even. This summer in particular I realized that just like my family…I could never live without my friends either.

They are all deeply engrained in my heart forever.

 

 

 

Can the Bell Ring Yet?

I have prided myself all summer on how I have not wanted the kids to go back to school.. Arrogant even of how we have been just one big happy family and no need for any structure or routine right?

Well wrong. That minute ended. This week.

You know how newborn babies have that little smell and feel about them that everyone just wants to get closer and hug them and snuggle them and caress their cheeks? Well teenagers have a smell about them….that makes you want to run. Far far away.

Ok so I am exagerating a little. When they are held prisoners and sequestered at the cottage (and when they are not beating each other up. Screaming at one another, or trying to get away with using their cell phones when they are not supposed too) they have a lot of angelic moments (ok..bearable moments).

But this week it was just too much for my brain (to organize and plan) my arms to drive their friends home at 11pm on a workday) my stomach (it was always empty because all their friends ate my food) or my nerves (I have none left)

Am I always at pms and hormonal come Aug 20 and become a screaming bitch because it is that time of month every year? Or is it because it is the week before school starts?

Before then I seem to hold it together pretty well. As much as I love structure I am very very fine with taking breaks from it. I can buy 30 frozen pizzas on sale and feed an army and have popcorn spilled all over my floor and not blink and eye .I allow multiple sleepovers and went on a boat ride with friends (their boat) with 16 others and had 7 kids sleepover (and have a midnight swim) and actually got up and went to work early the next day!

I am a fun (very very fun when I am not bossing and nagging) and extremely tolerant mother (unless it comes to health safety, academics, respect, hygiene etc.etc..etc..)

All that to say something just broke this week…seriously just an accumulation.Was it the sausage stew that was the last in my freezer that my now non-existent cleaning lady made and that I did not get a bite of? Was it the fact that I am quite sure one of the visiting teens kids peed in my pool? Is it the reading too often of my kids texts and learning of their broken hearts that is killing mine and wanting to harm the girls who dump my sons? Is it the KFC (on the floor) that I came home to with 6 boys in my living room eating it when the house had just been cleaned top to bottom by a cleaning service (after 7 weeks!)

Maybe it is that I have not been able to go naked in my Jacuzzi for the last 90 days at midnight? Or the racoons that gives me heart attacks nighty now and have decided to give birth to their millions of babies under my porch? Maybe it is the fact that my new cleaning lady takes 4 hrs to fold a sweater (good job she does however no wrinkles!) Maybe it is the fact that now my husband no longer drinks vodka martinis in the evenings I can’t vicariously live through that relaxation and feel a bit “virtually” buzzed too? Could it be that I have no clue how to roast a chicken? Or that there is so little time in the mornings now before work that I have knots in my hair all day? Could it be that I have no floated in my pool on my own for the entire summer?

And the kids seem a bit annoyed too this last week. They have upped the alienation and ignore us a lot. Less kisses, less hugs, texts are less friendly and much less frequent. Their tempers are shorter and so are ours. They fight more and love each other less. Although they are still having the time of their lives and maximizing this free time-I think we all realize it is just turning into a little bit of a circus by this point.

I am starting not to like them.

And what does this all mean my friends????

 

It means it is clearly back to the books.

Time for some good old homework and morning alarms. Time for some regular showers and clothing that matches. Chores after dinner and nutritious breakfasts in the morning. Missing each other in the day and looking forward to sharing our events at the end of them. Time to cherish time off and crave it instead of day after (for the kids anyways) of being the masters of their own time. Time to throw out the nutella and get a life.

Trust me there are many parts of going back to school that annoy me (pretty much all of the above plus making lunches, having to go to bed earlier, having to cook, having to nag. Having to nag. Having to nag) But…I am smart enough to know that the fun is coming to an end (and god was it fun except for this week) and to cherish the memories but get back to school children before I give you all up for adoption.

Monday for the boys and Wednesday for my girl (although first two days are two hours each!! I mean if by grade 6 your kid still needs and slow integration there is something wrong)

 

PS-do you think the 750 school supplies being labelled and uniforms to be bought, tried on ironed, rooms needing to be cleaned out, bus passes bought had anything to do with my bad mood and temper this week?

Is that pleasant in 30 degree weather when you have been cooped up inside at work all day?  Doing this in the evening with two-three friendly racoons in your face? Is it now???

 

PSS-you do know that by next weekend I will wish summer and chaos back right???