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Parenting has mom singing a new tune
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Published: July 12, 2009
Listening to it always brought forth visions of summer's laissez-faire lifestyle. You don't have a care in the world and you like it that way.
Then I became a mom, the most caring species on the planet.
Summer changes when you have children. Granted, the aroma of sun lotion still permeates the air, but it's not as poetic when it's referred to as sun block. I used to select sun lotions based on their fragrance (Banana Boat was always my favorite). Now my purchasing guideline is the SPF number.
And those Nat King Cole lyrics are defined so differently now.
Lazy? This summer, I've turned up the kids' responsibility knob. And they're struggling with the new "To Do" list on the refrigerator because kids are naturally lazier in the summer. "Summer is supposed to be fun, and cleaning isn't fun," they protest. "Start that sentence with any season of the year, and welcome to my world," I want to mutter.
Hazy? My head has been foggy since June 10. Particular dates and days of the summer solstice mean nothing to me. If my husband is still hanging around the house after 8 a.m., I assume it's either Saturday or Sunday. The school year marks my weekdays by whether or not homework, lunch money or permission slips are due. Take these reminders away from me, and I'm "calendarly challenged."
Crazy? I've bookmarked my brain with tons of activities and adventures to enjoy this summer: Local outings squeezed between our out-of-town vacations. My children have inherited my Type A approach to life: go, Go, GO! We're always on the go or always thinking of the next place we want to go. Put us in a car and it's a recipe for shear madness.
And what's that last line of the song? "You'll wish that summer could always be here." Many aspects about summer could become habitual: Enjoying a mid-day laugh with my son on the porch while slurping popsicles; celebrating my daughter's successful attempts to grow sunflowers. But, parents, let's touch base next month and see if we're singing a different tune.
School days, school days,
Dear old golden rule days …
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