I have been living in my carefree summer time world - no schedules, sleeping late, staying up late, beers around the campfire, took up smoking again, napping in the afternoon, slacking on my store, slacking on cleaning and all that kinda stuff. Oh, the smoking thing - I quit again already. I took up smoking again after quitting over 10 years ago and smoked for almost the entire summer but quit again in August. Now I can go back to abusing my husband over his smoking habit. Good times, good times.
They kid lets are all back to school. Stephen, now a 7th grader, was up and out first and look at how awake and bright he is:
He could not sleep the night before and he was still awake at around 2am. He is just like me the poor baby but I have developed some strategies that help me sleep after years and years of suffering the occasional insomnia. I try to help him fall asleep and most of the help he wants requires me to be with him either in his room or mine and then we both do not get sleep. Eventually it comes and he got about 4 hours asleep the night before school started.
We got a little smile out of him. He did go to bed very early this night and got a good nights sleep with no problems. We have discovered that he cannot play video games, go on the computer or watch TV for an hour before bedtime. We have realized that when he does participate in these activities before bedtime, those nights he cannot fall asleep. He realizes it too and happily agrees to our suggestions of sitting quietly and reading an hour before bed if not longer. His Dad breaks this rule sometimes and let him stay up to watch a movie the night before school started. Guess who was snoring in his bed while I was awake with a crying Stephen when he couldn't fall asleep?
Daniel, the 4th grader, was off second. He is so easy most of the time. He sleeps with no problem, he entertains himself most of the time, makes friends easily and can go by some days without ever having to discipline him or really 'deal' with him in anyway. Which is a bad thing because I feel he gets lost in the sauce as it were because of M's medical stuff and S's adhd and Daniel is just left floating out there. I have been making a real effort to change this. We have been spending so much more time together and last night while I was helping him with a school project he mentioned something to me that reassured me that I was on the right track. He said "me and you have been having so many conversations lately Mom." How can one sentence break your heart and make you happy at the same time?
Margaret, who is still in the Early Intervention Center (pre-school), started school two days after the boys. She was very happy to go back and asked me often over the summer months how many days until school started. Including her there is a total of 5 girls in her class this year and she is ecstatic over that. She is in the same classroom as last year, her best friend, Guilianna, is returning and her teacher, Mrs. Garvey, will be back after leaving in May to have a baby. Margaret picked out her shoes for today and I had to make the outfit around the shoes. I didn't buy any 'back to school' clothes for any of the kids. I am really going to make an effort to use what we have until it is stained or ripped or doesn't fit anymore.
All in all, I would say this past summer was really awesome. I am sad to see it go especially since the leaves started turning mid August and I know that winter will be here soon enough. I HATE winter. BUT I am not going to focus on the coming winter, I am going to focus on the beautiful weather we are still having, the green that is left for now, the ability to sit outside on the deck and the lovely night breezes that come through my open window at night. I have plans for some outdoor activities so we can enjoy the fresh air and nature while we can.
Usually in September I have a sense of starting anew. This year I do not feel that pull to make goals and plans for my success at tackling a busy life. This year I am already heading in the right direction and instead of making goals for now I am just moving forward everyday. Everyday I am taking steps in the direction that I want to be. I just feel like NOW is my time and I am going to shine in all aspects of my life - especially in my role as a Mother and in my relationship with myself. Good times, good times and I mean that literally.
