The Chaos of Summer

Ok can I just say that summer time is kicking my behind here?  I could never never in a million years be a home school parent.  I really do try and keep the activities to a minimum to keep myself sane.  I mean 5 kids is a lot of people to keep track of and when they each have stuff going on, even if it's just two things a day for each kid, that means I am running around chasing my tail all day.  Today Middle Boy had math enrichment and a play-date to be driven to and from (not sure why other mom couldn't drive one way at least), Little Boy had a dentist appointment, Big Boy and Middle Boy had a local mulching job to do together (they could walk to that one -yeah!)  Big Girl had swimming lessons.  Big Boy had young mens this evening and I went to the grocery story and did two loads of laundry.  Baby Girl had no fixed engagements.  Still it seemed like a lot.  Maybe I complain too much.  Maybe it was just a bad day.  Maybe it's the fact that T's schedule has been grueling lately.  Maybe we need a vacation.  

T has a couple days off coming up and I am too busy to even plan anything.  Do we go to the beach?  Do we just do a museum or two? Maybe Mt Vernon.  How about we just stare at each other not making a sound for 48hrs?  That is making some serious sense to me.

I feel like I have to be a cruise ship director or something.  I have to keep the act up in order to steer the kids away from TV and video games.  So far this summer I have paid for lacrosse camp, math enrichment, we've done 3 different versions of scout camp (cubs, scouts and staff to day camp), investigated violin and piano teachers, signed up one for swimming, and the two older boys got a very part time yard-work job.  

For Big Girl alone I have opened a stenciling kit, a new card game, an updated version of Kidpix, and a weaving loom to keep her happy and not watching Zach and Cody all day.  Why does Disney put these temptations in front of my young 6 year old?  Zach and Cody may not be all evil but I don't like how they are like 10 and trying to 'kiss de girls' already.  Call me a prude.  Go ahead.  I hate Hannah Montana too.  Is it just me?!

Getting Baby Girl to sleep has reached an all time high in difficulty.  Mostly because my 15 year old has the loudest voice and absolutely no ability to remember it's nap time!  ARGH!  I have to keep promising her fun activities that we will do after she naps to persuade her into slumber.  So far we have "baked cookies" (watching is helping I always say- seriously... I say that).  Painted fingernails and another time toenails, gone swimming, and made several park visits.  Yet someone has to shop for food and do laundry at some point.  Isn't the point of having lots of kids supposed to be so they can play together?  Out of my way?  Am I not enjoying this enough?  Probably not.  But today the weaving loom that is on it's way to making a new purse for Big Girl was more stress than it was worth and I ended up loosing my cool.  Hate it when that happens.  But like Scarlett O'hara says (and I have quoted her before on this blog) "Tomorrow is another day!"  Please bless it to be a better one-AMEN.