Monday, July 28, 2008

"Do what we can, summer will have its flies"

Emerson knew what he was talking about. I love summer more than anyone I know; however, I am starting to notice the flies.

Our summer, to date, has been lazy. That is what I planned for when scheduling our summer out months ago.

It has been great. Really, it has. I just did not realize how looooooong the summer was.

We have filled our time with countless days frolicking at the pool, impromptu play dates at the park, last minute hikes with friends, a relaxing trip to Chicago, many carefree visits to the zoo, two weeks of early morning swimming lessons, a week of tennis lessons, sleeping in and building imaginary worlds in our yard. No preschool. No weekly playdates. No schedules. I even canceled private swim lessons, piano lessons, gymnastics, and ballet for the summer.

Always on the go, I knew that by the end of July our lazy summer days would grow old. And so. On Monday, Jay and Lola will embark on their first tastes of real summer camps. One week at separate full-day camps and I am alone with Fifi, for the first time ever.

Lola picked "Horse Back Riding" camp at a farm. She has been begging me for months to enroll her in "horse school" and I decided that a one week camp was a good start. Honestly, I am hoping that she falls off the horse, un-harmed, and decides it is not for her. Jay, on the other hand, picked "Outdoor Adventure" camp where he will canoe, learn archery, hike, and swim all day long. Honestly, I am hoping that he loves it so much that I can send him there all summer long next year.

In preparation for this new summer routine, I spent some time discussing the changes with each kiddo individually.

Two children from the same mother and two completely different responses.

Lola has her backpack packed and her outfit laid out on her bedroom floor. She carefully laid out a pair of jeans, my little pony socks, pink Barbie cowgirl boots, and a purpleT-shirt with a picture of a pony. Her July calendar has a heart drawn on Monday the 28th and the days prior have messy Xs spilling out of the boxes. "It's tomorrow? Really, really, realllllly tomorrow!?! Camp is tomorrow. Like, when I wake up, tomorrow?" She asked last night in anticipation and fell asleep smiling.

Jay on the other hand, has no backpack packed, no outfit laid out, and no calendar marking the special day. I believe that he feels there will be room for negotiation in the morning and he will give birth to a debate. "I heard you tell someone it was all day. I don't want to be gone all day. I just want to do archery and canoeing and come right back to you." He said as I tucked him in after his 6th birthday party.

They differ so much, their personalities are polar opposites. They do come from the same mother. A mother that can't wait to give them up for a couple of hours to enjoy some time to reconnect with baby Fifi, grocery shop with one child, and run errands while holding only one hand.

It has been a looooooong lovely and lazy summer but now time for us to part ways for a couple of hours. Lola is anxiously looking forward to it and Jay anxiously trying to get out of it. This mother? Anxious to see how it all plays out.

Go. Go kids. Go. Enrich yourselves in summer camp, Mama needs to breath in the warm summer air.

69classy comments:

Jo Ashline said...

Okay, 3 kids do not a lazy summer make. Since when do three children equal lazy anything???? Good for you for "ahem" enriching your children. As a mom I understand it has NOTHING to do with getting them out of the house.

*wink*

Susan said...

Hope it goes well! Enjoy the little bit of break you get too.

Clare Anzoleaga said...

What a cute pic...it reminds me of the kids' gear at the wedding. Camp rules! :)

Val said...

What a sweet picture. Isn't it neat to see the way children from the same houshold react to things differently. Jay is so sweet to want to be with you, good thing that you have this documented, he will probably be singing a different tune when he hits the teenage years.

Rachel said...

I love that picture. It is fabulous!
Lazy summer, uh huh. Sure :-)
Jay is such a sweet little man.
I hope they have a fabulous time at camp and that you enjoy 'breathing' that summer air.
I have wonderful memories of summer camps and I hope your kids do too.
Smooches darlin'.

Miss said...

I bet they both have a blast. Hope the party went well!

lattemommy said...

I love that kids are so different from one another - it's one of the joys (and headaches) of parenting. I find it fascinating to watch my two children, who sometimes seem so similar, react in polar opposition to the same stimulus. Some days it boggles the mind.

Have a great time with Fifi, have an even better time finding your self again (she does nap, right?). And give us the dish on the birthday party, ok? :) Hope it went well!

CC said...

Come on kids! Mama needs a break!!!

Carissa(GoodnCrazy) said...

Is that really your own picture there at the bottom? Lovely.

We keep summer calm too.

And then WHAM! real life hits. We are set to MOVE! in 6 weeks, so much for the rest of our calm summer...

JCK said...

That sounds like a great plan! Hope all goes well and you get some special time with Fifi.

Beautiful picture!

Natalie said...

Umm, I really want to move to Ohio now. That picture did it for me. How COOL.

flickrlovr said...

Ditto to Jo's comment!

What a smart mama you are to be taking a little time to reconnect with your littlest and also let the kids get out and explore without you, make new friends, etc.

Hope Jay is ok tomorrow and enjoys camp! Sounds like Lola is all ready to go :)

Beth said...

I try to make summers as "free" as possible too. I have always joked that my favorite days of the year are the first day of school and the last day of school... for entirely different reasons! :-)

LOVE that photograph!

maggie said...

You are such a good mom planning out a summer full of relaxation and no schedule but still adding a little day camp. I bet they will remember these kind of summers, and I bet it will be cool to just connect one on one with your littlest one, which is probably otherwise kind of rare. So funny how different they are.

Oh, and I still love that picture!

carrie said...

They are going to have so much fun! Both of them, and you - you enjoy being with Fifi all alone!

Gorgeous photo too! ;)

Cecily R said...

Oh, I ADORE that shot. Adore it.

And the kids will have so much fun. To tell the truth, I'm a little jealous. Looking forward to hearing all about it!

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

I hope they have a wonderful time, and you do too.

Irene said...

Yeah, I am not really familiar with the term "lazy summer"...my kids are anything but lazy during the summer. I love summer, I love all the cool fun family things we do, but some days I am so damn tired and overwhelmed and, for just a minute, seriously look forward to the first day of school.

We have so much more fun to have this summer though, thanks for the motivation to make sure we get it all done!

And great photo!!! Absolutely beautiful!!!

Anonymous said...

My two girls are polor opposites. Sarah is calm and reserved playing for hours with princesses or ponies where as Hannah is in to couch diving and never sitting still except to eat or sleep.

I have Sarah in a half day church camp two days a week. This is also my time to get things done or grocery shop with one child.

The camps sound like fun and I love the picture of the kiddos.

I don't know how having three kids counts for a lazy summer. Mommy's have a 24/7 job and yours is times three.

Suburban Correspondent said...

Ah, "camp" is such a lovely word, isn't it?

Indy said...

This mama needs to breathe too. It has been a long summer.

Lisa said...

One of my favorite parts of Goosey going to preschool four days a week this fall is my 1:1 time with Lulu. Too often she does what Goosey wants to do - and might not even know what she wants to do, you know?

Enjoy your week. Bask in the sheer easyness (is that a word?) of one sweet child!

Lisa said...

PS - Love, love, love the picture. Kids in white make the best photos!

PSS - Needing a birthday party post - and a picture of you holding the whip!!!

Dziadek said...

Piekne zdjecie.Wyglada troche jak Van Gogh picture.
Czy Wnuczka bedzie maila ,malego konika,mam nadzieje???

Happy Days said...

I hope it all goes well! That picture is beautiful!

Colleen - Mommy Always Wins said...

Here's hoping the first day of camp goes well! My planned "time w/o kids" *never* goes the way I hope it will!

Crystal D said...

Oh I can't wait to hear how today goes. I hope just got off to his day with excitement and very little nervousness. I hope he will be very proud of himself after seeing how brave he is to be away all day. I hope little Lola falls off a very, very short pony (or maybe a mini horse) after one long week of brushing tails and shoveling poo, although if she loves horses it may just not matter, that crush could be hard to break.
I can't wait to hear the progress.

Crystal D said...

Oh and I bet Fifi is going to eat up this alone time with Mama, really enjoy that!! So fun.

Kelly said...

I hope they both love camp. Both camps sound like fun. And I hope you enjoy having only 1 kid for a bit. As much as I'm loving summer, knowing school is only 3 weeks away and I'll only have one child to deal with, well, it doesn't seem so bad!

Amy said...

Well you know we have been crazy busy over here!! Hope they have a great time at camp and you and Fifi enjoy that time together. And what an awesome pic!

Unknown said...

You scheduled a summer? Man, when I was a kid it was, "Get out of the house, I don't want to see you until supper." Or we were at Aunt Louise's resort at the lake. Chores in the morning and play the rest of the day. AH, summer.

Anonymous said...

I hoped for the last 3 years now Missy B would get over her love of horses-but alas-no injuries and no love has been lost....good luck. I think it is a girl thing to want a pony.

GypsiAdventure said...

I hope all goes well! It is really amazing to me just how different each child can be (mine amaze me every day)!
~K

Mandy said...

That sounds like MUCH fun!!!!

We will be starting school here next week along with dance and other activities.

It seems like the summer was cut way too short.

Enjoy your alone time with little Fifi, I'm sure she will love it up!!!

Stephanie said...

Beautiful picture! And thanks for the comment about having problems with circulation after your epidural. I'll probably be emailing you about it later. And I can't wait to see how Lola and Jay do with camp!

Unknown said...

there is NOTHING lazy about all that you have done this summer!! hope jay loves it and hope lola doesn't choose this same outfit every day!!

April said...

Proof indeed that nature plays a role in the nature v nurture debate! People with one kid just won't ever understand that completely.

Mama Smurf said...

You are SUCH a lucky dog! This is the first year in several that we didn't sign up for camps and I'm really regretting it.

Mary Beth said...

The camps sound really fun. I'll bet Jay has fun once his starts. That picture is gorgeous - it looks like a Homer Winslow or Andrew Wyeth painting.

Elizabeth Byler Younts said...

very cute! love 1-wk summer camp...so good for kids. :-)

great pic by the way...precious!

Angie @ KEEP BELIEVING said...

Next summer. I am going to plan a vacation for the first week of August. We are driving each other NUTS these last two weeks.

KEEP BELIEVING

Marmarbug said...

Ah yes. I am VERY mich like Lola! I hope she likes it but not TOO much. (For your sake) and Jay's camp sounds fun too!
I hope you can relax a it with Miss Fifi!

Ashley said...

Sounds marvelous. One question. Do they make summer camps for one year olds?

-Ash (www.bosssanders.com)

Don Mills Diva said...

Hope they both have a great time!

Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] said...

Good plan Mama. Starting in the fall, I get 1 day a week with alone time for each girl. I will LOVE it.

And that pic - GAH.

Anonymous said...

Oh my favorite part about summer was summer camp! I hope they both love it! And good for you for getting 1 on 1 time with Fifi.

Awwwh summer.

Helen Wright said...

Gorgeous picture!!!

You always need a break and some time to miss the little buggers!!!

Unknown said...

How fun! I can't wait to start summer camps with my boys... but I think I have a good few years to wait for that!

Quarantine Hobby said...

Oh how exciting! I hope they both have fun. I always loved summer camp!

Wonderful photo!

Blessings From Above said...

Funny how different kids can be. Praying Jay LOVES it! Can't wait to hear all about their camp adventures.

BTW, gorgeous picture!!!

mamatulip said...

That picture is BEAUTIFUL.

Rhea said...

Great picture!!

I bet both your kids will love camp. I love being young and having so many possibilities...you know, horse camp or sports camp or art camp. I wish I could do all of it now!!

We have had a pretty structure-free summer. I think it's good for the kids. They're so scheduled and routined through the school year, it's nice to have a break.

Enjoy your Fifi time!

Anti-Supermom said...

I betting that both love it, for different ways. I bet that you too will enjoy you Fifi time. I really take in those moments when it's just me and one of my children.

Happy Birthday to 'Jay' too. Six is an amazing milestone.

Kat said...

It is always so bizarre to me that my kids have the same parents (obviously) but are so completely different.

That pic is so beautiful!

Unknown said...

My oldest is that way too. Always hesistant to try something new but he usually likes it once he gets there. Hopefully your guy is the same way?!

Enjoy your time with only one kiddo!! (I know I do when the other is at preschool!)

p.s. gorgeous pic!

Laura said...

wow sounds great! cannot wait to hear all the adventures!!!!

Love the photo...very nice!

Karen said...

It sounds like your little girl is bitten with the horse bug. Take it from an equestrian, it may never go away.

ysrael said...

I just blog hop, well written post
keep it up!

Kim said...

That picture!! Breathtaking!!! I love it..

And summer camp sounds heavenly!!

Kimmylyn

Bunchy said...

Ahhhh, my two oldest just got back from a week at actual sleep-away camp, and it was so quiet and peaceful here with just one. It was just what I needed, since I couldn't actually get away myself! Enjoy it.

And yes, I'm over my writer's block. Happy??? ;)

MarĂ­a said...

Good photo!

Eve Grey said...

Man, I have done the opposite this summer & the kids have 4 weeks of camp each & they just want to stay home. I missss them!!!!!!!!!!!

Karen MEG said...

Beautiful picture!!!

Oh how I WISH the boy liked his summer day camp! I think the girlie will enjoy hers when she's old enough. He's a real homebody... she's a bit more fierce, fearless almost. When I dropped her off for her 1/2 day she was "good bye, Mommy, go away now..."

Enjoy the bit of break!

Anonymous said...

it is amazing how kids from the same parents can basically not be related...at all!! and, enjoy the break. really. it's so nice.
xo

VDog said...

This was so beautifully written, P.

I could feel your mamaness exhaling.

Jennifer said...

I have a feeling this will be me in few years.

Beautifully written and beautiful picture.

tiarastantrums said...

so true - so true!
So funny how boys just want to be with their mommas!!(my son won't even agree to summer camp b/c he would have to be away from me.

3 Peanuts said...

I hope they enjoyed camp. The summer got too long for me too this week and we called a camp at 7:00 am Monday morning and asked (begged) them to take Will and Harry--and they did!

Kim

Jaina said...

Oh how exciting for the horse camp! (I'm a bit horse crazy) I hope you enjoy the week of "quiet" time and one on one time with the littlest one. I'm sure he'll like it when he gets there, but it's super sweet that he doesn't want to be away from his mommy for very long.

 

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