A Little Bit of this... Little Bit of That

Another school year has come and gone and I find myself wondering how it could have passed so quickly. Even my kids thought this school year went by fast. And kids NEVER say that. 

So, I'm sitting here scratching my head and thinking about the summer, which will be a different kind of summer for our family. I started working full-time in January of this year, so a 40-hr work week remains the same now as it did during the school year. My kids were not very happy about this, so we are all going to have to find a way to adjust. 

I've spent every summer by the pool, having playdates with friends or being lazy watching a movie with my kids since there were born. They don't know how to wrap their heads around this new normal and I don't blame them. Alll they've ever known is for mom to take them places during the summer. I know plenty of parents work full-time and it's fine. Kids are fine. We all survive and find ways to keep entertained. It's not that I am dreading working, because I'm not, rather it's the guilt of me not spending the summer doing fun stuff with my kids, that's getting to me. Day trips to the pool, spending a few days with family, watching them jump on the trampoline with the water sprinkler under it, eating popsicles on the front porch...those will take place far less than used to. My kids are growing up and I have a career now. Nothing stays the same, but for 15 years, all of the above is what I knew.

However, all is not lost for the summer, because we have another driver in the family now. It's still very fresh and I'm still trying to decide how I feel about it all. BUT, when I come to terms with the fact that I have a 16 year old that can help cart people places, I think it will be a plus. The younger two kids are already making their lists of places he can take them. 

So much has transpired this year and it's all happening too fast. I often get wrapped up in work or distracted by activities that I miss opening my eyes and seeing the bigger picture sometimes. I don't want to miss it. I feel like I've missed too much already. Missed too many opportunities with my kids or family... missed sitting down and investing into them. They are not going to be living at home forever and that's hit close to home these past 6 months. So, I've made a few observations that I want to "journal" and hope that maybe this might resonate with some of you as well. 

High school flies by. FLIES. I thought my oldest went through middle school pretty quickly, because it was only 3 years. Right? That was nothing compared to the 2 years he's been in high school. I swear he JUST STARTED 9th grade... JUST STARTED. But, no, he's getting ready to be a Junior and driving a car. By himself. And now my middle one will be joining him at the high school too. People told me it went by fast and I was like "meh...whatever." It's true! Drivers Ed, then it's the permit, then it's the license and then it's graduation. I've already marked 3 of those off the list with one of my kids. I can't believe I only have 2 years of school left with my oldest. All I did was blink...once... maybe twice... and here we are. 

I swear I didn't finish college THAT long ago, and now my own kid is on the heels of college himself. Even though this mama is having a hard time wrapping her head around all the change & growing up, it's been great seeing all my kids mature and especially watching my boys turn into men. You worry a little more, pray a little harder, and trust that it's all in God's hands!