Sadly Back to Normal

My children drove me a little bit bonkers this past summer.

They’re four and a half years apart in age, you see…and they often have problems getting along.

Their differing genders probably fuel the misunderstandings…I guess.

However, I know how I feel about it.

I just want them to STOP IT!

We would talk about their arguing…and they would agree with my reasoning…and five seconds later one of them would correct the other…and the other one would load up and fire back.

But in one of those crazy, miraculous things about parenting…when the buses came to pick them up for school this week, I felt like crying…even though we all needed a sanity break.

So I went off to jog and then to do some volunteering.

I miss them, but I’m doing fine.

Yet the summer wasn’t all bad.  We had some lovely moments.  

Like the day early in the summer when I took them to the zoo despite the scorching heat.  Super Girl and I took our cameras (Snap, click, snap!), and we made sure we got around to see all our favorite animals. When my contact lens started bothering me, they were concerned and helpful.   In fact, they didn’t argue all day.  It was fantastic.  We sweated, but we worked together to have a good time.

 
Together

Our vacation, by the way, was awesome.  We were in Washington State for almost two weeks.  We found out our kids like art museums…and we already knew they liked towers and cupcakes and aquariums and bagels and all things city.

And they can hike…especially C.G.  Craig and I were carrying heavy backpacks full of water, food and camera equipment along the trails.  At one point on a particularly steep trail…when I needed a break, I handed C.G. my backpack, and he took off up the hill with all the energy and enthusiasm of a nine-year-old boy…which he is.  During our explorations, we shared and appreciated visual experiences like banana slugs; water in all shapes, forms and sizes; craggy, powerful mountains; and moss without end.

 When we were at Olympic National Park and walking on the beaches…and Craig and I were overwhelmed with the beauty of God’s creation (with me manifesting my joy by constantly jumping up and down, whirling and throwing out my arms toward the sea stacks and telling the kids to Look around! for the five hundredth time), they were pretty quiet with their complaints despite the blisters forming on their feet, and the tides being too high to see the sea urchins we had hiked two miles out to spy (okay, C.G. shed a few tears over that one…He LOVES tide pool creatures).

Then we had quiet moments...moments when I would read aloud to them while we were sprawled all over the furniture.  My inner actress would manifest, and they laughed at all the right places, enthralled.

We’ve still not finished that book, and I’m wondering if they'll be too old for it next summer.

I hope not.

Super Girl started Tae Kwon Do.  It was so fun to see her doing kicks.  She looks like a natural to me…of course.

And C.G. earned his blue belt.  I have a picture of him…beaming…his face is the sun…his pride illuminates our everything…if only for that frozen moment.

So as the groaning buses rounded the corner taking them away…maybe it wasn’t so surprising I was sad.

Maybe it was right.

Maybe it was terribly right…to be sadly back to normal.

 
A Slug You Could Saddle Up

Comments

[Nadia Cooper]

Don't be sorry! Crying cause it's touching to hear you speak about your kids. Special bond I hope to have with my own one day. oxo

[Laura]

Thank you, Nadia. You're right. I'm incredibly blessed. Although I'm sorry the post made you cry. :( I miss you, too...my sweet friend.

[Nadia Cooper]

Wow Laura! Tears are streaming down my face. What beautiful memories. And yes, I believe, that as a mom, you can be sad to see them off come September. They are your babies after all. We should all be so lucky to be blessed with a family like yours. Miss you all terribly! love and kisses.