Back to School Blues

Enjoying some ice cream on the deck

It usually starts about mid-July. Summer break is halfway over and we're quickly approaching the day we have to go back to school/work/daycare. Anxiety works its way into our house as I look at the list of things to do with the kids and projects around the house that haven't gotten done. Add in the reality that this marks one more summer gone in my children's lives, that soon there will be a summer when they don't want to go on fun little excursions with me at all, and you can understand why I've been in a bit of a melancholy mood lately.

Lexi's first time at the beach.

What has topped it off this past week (our last week at home together) my oldest daughter has been really pushing it at home. I love her and she is a good kid but it seems like we have been fighting a lot lately and that just adds to the sadness that the summer is over. A couple of days ago it was about wearing a swimsuit to a friend's house, yesterday it was over cleaning up the toy room. No big deal. Things all mothers and daughters probably argue about.

Sprinkler time!

The reason it upset me so much was because these are our last few days together before I go back to work full-time for the year, before I start that crazy life of a full-time wife, mother, AND employee who is trying to balance it all along with household chores and carting kids off to practices and activities. Before I have little time to do "fun stuff" with them. Before I barely have time to respond to all their needs. I wanted these last few days to spend loving my kids and doing whatever they wanted to do whether it was going to parks, hiking through the timber or just snuggling on the couch. I wanted to take these last few days to enjoy them at this age before it slips through my fingers just like it did at the end of last summer.

Party in the Park Kiddie Parade

Back to school shopping...Will
found the perfect backpack!

I guess I'm just sad they're growing up and the end of summer marks one more year gone before they leave our house and start their own lives as adults. As much as each stage is challenging, I do love each and every new accomplishment (big or small) and seeing them experience and learn new things. I wish I would be able to devote as much time to them all year round as I am able to during the summer but that just isn't possible for us.

Watching Lexi grow up this
summer was truly bittersweet.

So it's with a heavy heart that I go back to work tomorrow. We did have a wonderful summer together and made countless memories big and small. I am hoping (as I hope every school year) I will be able to take time each evening to enjoy each of our children in some small way and that we don't spend those precious moments together having meaningless arguments about clearing the table or picking up bedrooms. Hopefully school will bring back some routine to our household and everyone will transition well. Hopefully the time we do get to spend at home outside of work and school will be good, quality time. And if not, there's always next summer, right?

Fun times at Adventureland.

Hitting the links with Livi.

Swim lessons

Having fun at Shop and Chalk.

Living room fort for a sleepover.

Doing a nature scavenger hunt around
the farm.