Well, we have officially kicked off summer break! The kids and I met Auntie B at our favorite beach for fun in the sun and sand in our pants. Long gone are the days of Matthew being afraid of the sand (which I secretly loved because he would perch on the end of my lounge chair and happily watch the goings on around us, contained by his fear of that gritty floor) now he is only slightly timid about the water. The older two spent the majority of the time laying on the edge of the water letting waves crash over them. This is of course the part of the waves that churns the sand up like a blender, then depositing it in the tops and bottoms of unwitting children so that when they stand up their bottoms sag like the old days before swim diapers. We usually try to get lunch in before the sand completely envelopes them, a futile effort of course. Matthew is ready to dive into his sub hands coated like sugared doughnuts when I stop him. I tell him to go rinse off his hands in the water and he looks at me like I have sprouted a second head. Mary takes the lead and brings him to the water and I watch like its a silent movie. She gestures to him, he stares at her. She immediately drops to the ground and covers her own hands in sand, as a visual aid, and goes to the water and rinses her hands. Simple enough. He is still staring at her like she has just lost her mind. She just shakes her head and shrugs at me like “that’s all I got Mom”. She admits defeat and heads to the towel to eat her lunch. After a few minutes he finally gives in to the lack of civility and washes his hands off. A man’s gotta eat after all….

Summer vacation is coming and unlike most of my mommy friends I am psyched! Not because I am so crafty and enlightened in the ways of inspiring my children. I love being on our own schedule. I can embrace my spontaneity. I don’t have homework to do, I don’t have to worry about whether I sent this note or that permission slip. I guess I look forward to a little irresponsibilty. It is a slacker’s paradise! It may also be my inability to forsee the obvious strife of siblings who have had enough of each other. Or the inevitable “I’m bored mom!” that will be lobbed at me on a regular basis (regardless of the bikes, trampoline, swingset etc.) It is all worth it to me not to have to answer to anyone. If they get too antsy, beach day! If they are out of ideas to do outside I will happily send them out with sheets and clothespins to make a fort. Even if I have to take them off my bed! What a great way to kick off laundry day! When it gets too hot to be outside its movie time…So I guess it takes a little (very little) creativity, its all worth it to me to not be a slave to anyone else’s schedule. And you, like my dear friends can remind me, come July when I am pulling out my hair and offering my children to the first (not highest) bidder, that I wanted this…