Home For The Summer

Just over 9 months ago, I took this picture of my kids Chase and Carly headed off to their first day of school.  Today, is the final day of classes this school year.  I remember the excitement of a whole summer waiting for me.  Sleeping in, no homework, playing with friends.  A kids drream come true!  But parents view today a bit differently.

After today, the kids are home.  All the time.  Day and night.  There's no break while they're at school.  No breathing room.  No time to exhale.  Parenting is exhausting, and sometimes you need a little time to decompress and regroup.  Good luck finding THAT after today.  One thing we notice in our house is how much more food is consumed when the kids are home all the time.  And they aren't even teenagers yet!

Now if all this sounds like I'm complaining....well, I guess I am.  But make no mistake, I love having my kids around.  They're constant reminders of what I put MY mom and dad through all those summers ago.  And we have a lot of fun things planned this summer.  We'll make some great summer memories and before you know it, it will be "first day of school picture day" again.