…and my life can get back to the everything-is-on-a-schedule-including-my-kids rhythm that I love so much. And have missed so much! One is a junior, one is homeschooling 8th grade, and one is going into 5th grade. And of course my oldest who is in her Senior year of college! How did that happen so fast???

Are you and yours ready for the new school year?

…to get my girls all set for the new school year. And even though I have been procrastinating, terribly, I am doing a serious Happy Dance on the inside. It has been a long summer break of non-stop kids in and out of my house; pretty much every single day. Just yesterday I said “No one over, and no one goes anywhere”, and I somehow ended up with 3 extra kids in my house at one point.

I told them last weekend we would get all of their shoes, folders, pens, etc that they need yet, as soon as they do some chores. So no, we have not gotten those things yet. I am pretty sure when it gets down to the wire and there is a chance they will be wearing last year’s shoes to start this school year, my house is going to be looking pretty clean.

And then there is the whole homeschooling situation with my 13 year old 8^th grader. She is doing all of her classes online this year, and although I managed to get all of her books and supplies unpacked, I still have not downloaded the software we received, or even showed her how to get around in her virtual classroom. (In case if I never mentioned it, I am a horrible, horrible procrastinator).

I have been busy every single day this week, running kids back and forth to drivers training, marching band, and anywhere else they felt they needed to go. I am busy again tonight, and have a pretty full weekend. I am in my 4^th week of my college class, and although I enjoy the class and am doing very well, I do miss all of that free time I had.

And last, but certainly not least, I need to get everyone’s things organized. We are all going to be very busy into the beginning of the school year, and I do not have the time, or patience, to be hunting for school folders, backpacks, hairbrushes, socks, etc every single morning (which is pretty much what happens every day). So if anyone has some great organizing tips and tricks that you use, I would so very much love to hear them.

Are your kids ready to go back to school?

…is a very difficult thing to do most days. I have to say I have been having a less than pleasant week with a busy schedule, my girls demanding things for school, and refusing to do anything in our house. I will not even get into the details of what they were doing to wind me up, because it will just wind me up again and I need to try to get a couple hours sleep before work tonight.

Being awake for the majority of the night, which is normal for my 3rd shift body, I got up before the sun, got my camera, and went down to the beaches on Lake Michigan. There were a few people out and about, and a lot of fishing boats in the water! After that I stopped to get a cup of coffee, went to the store to get some things I needed in the house, and headed to church.

It was a nice, peaceful morning not listening to kids bickering with each other non-stop. I am not sure what I expected when I got home, but they were once again bickering. In fact, they are arguing right now. Over what they are going to watch on television.

I need more mornings like today, so I can relax, reflect, and not be a referee.

What do you do to relax when your are feeling overwhelmed with your environment?

If you ask me a question, and I have given you an answer, you are NOT allowed to ask me that question again. Period.

For days I have been listening to the same question being rephrased in 10 different ways and repeated to me, hoping for a different answer than the previous one received. I explained that if I change my mind about an answer; I will let them know. Continuously asking me is only going to make me frustrated, and just strengthen that “No” I told them several times in the previous 3 hours.

Maybe I should explain that what is happening here, is that I will be asked something, and literally (Literally!) within 10 minutes, I am getting asked again. Example:

9 year old: “Mom, can Jane come over to make bracelets with me?”

Me: “No she cannot. She spent the night last night, and was here until 4 pm this afternoon. I have to do homework so I need some quiet.”

Less than 10 minutes later…

9 year old: “Mom, can Jane come over and sit with me on the front porch?”

Me: “I am making a new rule!” …see above 🙂

I am trying to be better, not judge people or get angry. But after one of my girls having their bike stolen from right outside my front door, in the middle of the day, puts me over my limit. This is the fourth bike that I have had stolen here. Yes, they were told do not leave your bikes out, if someone steals it, I will not replace it.

A neighbor girl saw another girl in the neighborhood on said stolen bike. She apparently went to her fathers house and took the bike with her. I do not know if the bike will be coming back, but as soon as she does, her mother, her, and I are going to have a little chat.

What kind of parent does not question when their child comes home with a new bike? “Oh, did she tell you she borrowed it from a friend? And you believe everything your kids say too?”

This is so frustrating to me. I hope the bike comes back, mainly for the fact of there is a bike lock wrapped around the center bar that unless if they cut it off, they will not be able to get it off. So, if she has an issue believing me, then after I call the police, I will kindly remove the lock to prove the bike is mine.

It is shameful when you cannot trust anyone any more. What happened to respecting others belongings, property, etc?

…my kids turn it into a qualifying Olympic sport. I love how they complain about someone else, then sit there and instigate them just to hear them whine some more. They spent all day yesterday at a local festival, and I think they all got too much sun and not enough rest. My sleep schedule has been thrown off for the entire weekend, so I have felt a bit grouchy myself. Throw in some cloudy weather, put them all in the same room, and watch them go!

I for one cannot wait until school starts again. I also hope our local schools wise up and implement year-round school before all of my kids get out of school 🙂

…in about another half hour. My girls are spending the day together at a local festival, and will not be home until after the fireworks tonight 🙂 Which makes me happy. A much needed day of no kids. The fact that I have been up since 3pm yesterday afternoon, worked 8 hours last night, and need to get some sleep before I lose my mind makes me not happy.

The fact that I had to go grocery shopping to get picnic supplies for my girls, make 8 sandwiches, pack chips, salads, drinks, plates, silverware, etc, while the 2 children here sat watching tv, makes me not happy.

The fact that I am still telling them to find their sunscreen, beach towels, and swimsuits when they need to leave in 25 minutes makes me not happy. Their pets not being checked for food and water yet makes me very, very not happy.

So, in honor of my not-happiness (yes, I just made that up), I am going to bed, and hope I can keep the sleeping to a minimum nap, and not sleep my whole entire kid-free day away.

What are your exciting plans for the weekend?

…I ended up with an extra child at my house, not sure how or who he belongs to, but I am pretty sure he is the sibling of another child who is here quite often. 3 kids in the kitchen and me in the living room =

Unknown, unnamed kid: “Did all of this stuff come with your house, or did you have to bring it with you?”

My 9 year old: “We brought it with us, from our old house. Which was infested with bats. Yeah, and then we all had to get rabies shots. It was horrible and hurt really bad. And we have lived here 5 or 6 years.”

Unknown, unnamed kid: “whaaat?”

LOL, I love hearing how kids tend to exaggerate things. Yes, the things about the bat-infested house and rabies shots did happen, but she was two and cannot remember it. She has heard about it so often though, that we have managed to project the entire horrible incidence into her memory 🙂

…really has me wondering what my children have repeated while they were at the neighbors!

9 year old girl: “I can’t call my Mom “Mommy”, she says I am too old for that and to not act like such a baby.”

Different 9 year old girl: “He is so retarted.”
Me: “What? What did you just say?” “Unless if you are talking about someone who has a genuine mental disability, you are not allowed to say that in our home. The same goes for ‘dumb’, ‘stupid’, and ‘idiot’.”

Another different 9 year old girl: “My mom has to get a 3rd job because my Dad is too lazy to help take care of me so she has to do everything by herself.”

I do not know, and am pretty positive I would not want to know, the things my children have said to the neighbors! But it certainly is a great reminder for all of us to mind our words, because once they are out there, you cannot get them back. And once they are out there, you never know who may be repeating them.

…of knowing in 2 days when I pick up my 13 year old from camp, she is going to have a bit of a struggle adjusting back to life with her sisters. Yes, this is the same child who asked me to “not leave her” at camp.

I am expecting she is going to have a bad attitude, so I am preparing now to help make her transition easier. She will have only been gone for 6 days, but 6 days to her is like a month to anyone else.

I think the 4 hour ride home while she gets to tell us everything she saw and did will be a great start. And I will cook her favorite dinner for her, and make sure she knows how much we missed her, and how happy we are that she is back home.

I hope this is an experience she will now want to do every year. Working up to being a camp counselor would be an amazing thing for her to do!

How did your children handle coming back from camp?