Sunday, June 22, 2008
Yay!!
After spending two and a half weeks with his grandparents in southern Illinois, A finally came home today.
My house feels like home again...for a week, at least, before he heads off to visit my parents.
This summer is a challenge, because I'm quite unhappy with the babysitter situation - A is turning 12, and he hates going to her house to hang out with the 'little kids'; and I'm not terribly happy with many of the life choices she's made recently. Truth is, I don't want him there much, either. But at his age, it seems like a futile exercise in humiliation to get him set up at a new babysitter for just a couple of months before school starts back up. He'll be in junior high this fall, and I've promised to let him stay by himself after school at that point.
So he's looking for places to go and things to do over the summer. Several weeks with each set of grandparents, a week of vacation with me, a week with dad, and as much time as he can spend with friends. Unfortunately, that means I'll see very little of him between now and the end of August. I know he enjoys traveling, and it's good for his adventurous little soul, but it's a lot harder on me than I'll publicly admit. When he is gone, my house is too quiet, and my life lacks a certain structure that only parenting can provide me.
Yeah, I'll admit it. I've spent the last two weeks living off of Jamba Juice, instant oatmeal, and Jimmy John's sandwiches. It's nothing to be proud of, but I won't be bothered to cook for just myself.
I plan on soaking up as much of him as I possible can over the next week...and then Saturday night, we're having the big birthday party at his dad's house. I tell you, I love that boy with everything that I have. Just by existing, he's given me all of the reasons I've ever needed to make something of myself and set an example for him to grow into a healthy, productive, loving adult. He's my world.
Not to mention the fact that he's the funniest person I know. We'll consider that a bonus.
A - "Mom, why do you think that Hardee's restaurants are only in the south these days? They used to be everywhere."
Me - "I dunno. Maybe they're just so unhealthy that everyone in the north that ate there died."
A - "Yeah. I bet they all had Hardeetacks."
Me - Groan.
My house feels like home again...for a week, at least, before he heads off to visit my parents.
This summer is a challenge, because I'm quite unhappy with the babysitter situation - A is turning 12, and he hates going to her house to hang out with the 'little kids'; and I'm not terribly happy with many of the life choices she's made recently. Truth is, I don't want him there much, either. But at his age, it seems like a futile exercise in humiliation to get him set up at a new babysitter for just a couple of months before school starts back up. He'll be in junior high this fall, and I've promised to let him stay by himself after school at that point.
So he's looking for places to go and things to do over the summer. Several weeks with each set of grandparents, a week of vacation with me, a week with dad, and as much time as he can spend with friends. Unfortunately, that means I'll see very little of him between now and the end of August. I know he enjoys traveling, and it's good for his adventurous little soul, but it's a lot harder on me than I'll publicly admit. When he is gone, my house is too quiet, and my life lacks a certain structure that only parenting can provide me.
Yeah, I'll admit it. I've spent the last two weeks living off of Jamba Juice, instant oatmeal, and Jimmy John's sandwiches. It's nothing to be proud of, but I won't be bothered to cook for just myself.
I plan on soaking up as much of him as I possible can over the next week...and then Saturday night, we're having the big birthday party at his dad's house. I tell you, I love that boy with everything that I have. Just by existing, he's given me all of the reasons I've ever needed to make something of myself and set an example for him to grow into a healthy, productive, loving adult. He's my world.
Not to mention the fact that he's the funniest person I know. We'll consider that a bonus.
A - "Mom, why do you think that Hardee's restaurants are only in the south these days? They used to be everywhere."
Me - "I dunno. Maybe they're just so unhealthy that everyone in the north that ate there died."
A - "Yeah. I bet they all had Hardeetacks."
Me - Groan.
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