A continuation of my original blog, "Surviving Motherhood". |
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Welcome to my world of middle school, high school, and motherhood. The life of a mom is never easy, especially as children grow, and especially when you have a special needs child. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| Most summers, I have no issues with the kids being home. Usually, the hardest part of it is affording all the food and snacks we need to keep them fed. This year, it hasn't been a problem at all. We are very comfortable, and always have food to eat. I am so appreciative of that fact. This summer has been fantastic. I've decided that I'm not going to shove school activities down their throats while it's summer. We've all been relaxing, having a good time. The kids can always occupy themselves, and are fairly independent. We stay downstairs together, watch movies, they play video games, we chat a lot, having a great time. There's a lot of camaraderie with the kids and I. The 5 of us (Dixon included) are a very tight knit family. I live in a house with all my favorite people (and a favorite being in Dixon of course!), so I enjoy the time I have with everyone while we have it. I don't get sick of my kids, which many people have tried to guilt me into. I'm sorry that they were miserable, but that doesn't mean I have to be too. I'm quite happy to be home with the kids, enjoying our days together before they go back to school. I'm so glad we get another month in August. I'm thrilled that they don't go back until after Labor Day, which means I can hang out with them just a little longer. I don't feel so rushed. I hope they don't either. We still have plenty of time. Dixon has grown used to the kids being home, and finds it a good reason to come stay downstairs for most of the day. Normally, when it's just him and me, he likes to take the opportunity to sleep on everyone else's bed while I stay downstairs. Not much company for Meowlel, but those are the breaks. We haven't been talking about the upcoming middle school and high school year just yet, but I know they know it's around the corner. I know all too well that it is also. Next week, we'll be going school supply shopping for Journey to get all her needs, and get some basics for Ryan. We've been told that the high schools let their course teachers decide what's necessary for the students to bring. If I think back to when I was in high school, I don't really recall having a school supply list, I just walked in with a zippered binder filled with blank paper and multiple folders, pens, pencils and erasers. It seemed to suit me just fine. I know things are going to be different for the kids (I don't recall ever having a school supply list when I was in middle school either, but Journey does for the next 3 years, which is fine by me.) We've been doing some Girl Scout activities this summer so far. Journey's gotten to see her friend Ben twice now, we also went over Melissa's house to see Grace, and Journey is hoping to get to see her good friend Bradley in the upcoming weeks. We also have a Girl Scout event going on tomorrow, and then again on the 27th and the 28th of July. August is going to go by very quickly. Journey spends a week at summer sleep away Girl Scout camp from August 6th to 11th, and then Journey and I leave to see my best friend in Minnesota on August 17th, and return August 22nd, one day before Journey's 11th birthday. Journey's birthday, we're doing the usual, going to Olive Garden and Sweet Frog. She's not having a party this year because none of her friends are going to be here during that time. That's the only drawback to school starting after Labor Day, everyone's using it as a last chance vacation before school starts again, which means that no one is here for her party. She seems to be okay about it for the most part. I'm glad to hear it. Ryan suffered the same fate in June, as all his friends were out of town for his birthday. His best friend and he spent a day together before Ryan's birthday, which I was super happy about. I will continue to update as I feel for the rest of the summer. I'm sure I'll have plenty to say when the kids go back though. |