Diary of an Overly Optimistic Summertime Mom :: Part 2

Weeks 3 & 4:

Grocery List:

• Bulk size boxes of all of the snacks
• Ingredients for a fun baking project Frozen pizzas & more snacks

Activity Schedule:

• Swim – Monday, Wednesday, Friday
• Dance – Tuesday and Thursday
• Soccer – Tuesday
• Snoballs – all day, everyday

Chore List:

• Start cleaning out my closet Pick up crumbs
• Prepare to leave for the pool (2 hours minimum)

Summer Goals:

• Get back in shape Burn enough calories to balance out snoball intake
• Operation: Self-Service Summer (still hopeful!)
• Get the house ready to sell next spring (See below)
• Have fun with my kiddos! Watch my kids have fun destroying my house

It’s the beginning of the fourth week of summer, and we are all surviving, I mean thriving! It was a rocky start, but I think we have finally found our groove. Full disclosure, I’m writing this entry while hiding under the covers and listening to my kids recreate the little girl version of Lord of the Flies. Picture less violence and more loud proclamations of dislike and annoyance with a sprinkling of door slams and threats to tell Mom. I should probably intervene but I think it’s best to let them work out their own disagreements. Conflict resolution is such an important skill to learn.

Speaking of important skills, Operation: Self-Service Summer is going… We have had a few lunch-making lessons, and I am happy to report that my threshold for watching a four year-old spread mustard on a quarter-sized area of sliced bread with the back of a spoon is fifteen minutes. So, we should have this skill locked down in time for us to try it again next summer!

I haven’t quite made it to the gym yet. But I did tread water for 30 minutes with three puddle-jumper clad children strangling me because a dragonfly was flying around the pool. I’m pretty sure that’s part of Navy Seal training which is so much more of a workout than the elliptical at the gym. I mean, have you seen those guys? I’m well on my way to getting back to my pre-baby shape. Although, the daily snoball runs might slow down the process a bit, but it’s summer in Louisiana. I need snoballs, and they need me. It’s understood around here.

Again, I have to say that I am really enjoying how much more time (I believe it’s four times as much, but who’s calculating that?) I get to spend with my daughters. One of my girls even felt comfortable enough to ask me for a snack while I inserted a tampon. Summer break really has brought us so much closer. And while we are on the subject of snacks, WTF?!? Why are they so hungry all the time??? Every time I hear the word “snack,” my left eye starts to twitch. Hey, maybe this will help with my healthy eating journey. From now on, when I think that I need a snack, my eye will begin to twitch, and I’ll immediately curl up in the fetal position instead of eating. Every situation truly does have a silver lining!

We are headed to my husband’s parents’ house near Nashville next week, and it’s perfect timing. The whole family could use a break in routine. Not to mention, the relief that comes with finally having an advantage in the adult:child ratio will be worth the nine hours of snack requests (eye twitch) and electronic device meltdowns that it takes to get there. It’s always so nice for them to have this time with their grandparents and to be someone else’s problem, I mean, joy for a while.