The end of summer as they {think} they know it

The kid's have been out of school for the summer since Monday at 12:30.  After a pool party Monday afternoon at a friend's house and a trip to Hurricane Harbor water park at Six Flags with friends yesterday, today was the first day I had my 2 at home with me for summer vacation and I am ready to send them back.  Barring the occasional flare ups, I am pretty lucky that they tend to get along so well, but lately they have been at each other's throats and today was the worst it has been in a long time.  Not only that, boy were they needy.  Now, I love to be wanted and feel useful as a mom, but today I was borderline servant and I need to put my foot down.  I don't handle change to my routine all that well either so that, on top of their bickering, was making me think that pulling my toe nails out one by one might be more enjoyable than spending a whole "carefree" summer at home with the kids.   I know that sounds horrible, but it was one of those days.  Please know though that there is no where I would rather be...I love being able to be fortunate enough to be home with my babies.

So I guess some changes are in order.  I figured if I get up early I could pop in a load of laundry or 2 and enjoy a cup of coffee in silence and get my head in the game before the chaos begins.  If I stayed up a bit later I could get a few things done that I can't while refereeing an in-house-mixed-martial-arts-match over who took whose silly bands or who looked at who too long.  I also am a firm believer in schedules (more on that later) and have learned today that I cannot rely on everyone entertaining themselves all summer.  Oh, and I am not a servant, butler, maid or any other description that I currently feel I fall into.  I am a mom, and I am pretty sure the definition is different so, back to chore lists, schedules and organized fun. 

I came across this great idea for chore cards from Melissa over at 320 Sycamore.  I just love her blog.  Seeing as though I have an over abundance of craft supplies...I am going to spend some time this weekend and get those babies all made up and ready for action first thing Monday morning.  I also found some wonderful ideas and advice from another favorite blogger of mine, Shawni over at Life so I am also working on that bucket list and a schedule to organize this chaos before it gets out of control.  My kid's have it pretty easy, but I don't want to spend my summer yelling, jumping between fights and being on the verge of everything just falling apart because I have no control.  I know things will be tough, I know there will be a lot of resistance, but I am prepared to face it head on.  I am also prepared to reward them with fun adventures and treats for helping out and sticking with the program.  I am confident that by instilling this now (as I should have years ago) I am doing nothing but good for my children and our family (and my sanity!)  No one ever said being a mom was easy.  I am giving up on being the perfect mom (is there even such a thing) I am just trying to be the best mom I can be.  I want to enjoy my children to the fullest and somehow I can't in all the craziness...I can take organized chaos so that is where I am headed. 

I will leave you with this quote by Anna Quindlen (thanks again Shawni) which pretty much sums up my goal for the summer for myself and how I view myself as a mother and wife:

 "The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself."


Tracy