Well, Summer Is Over ... Now What?

By de anne

School has begun..yeah! The kids are out of the house, out of the refrigerator and out of my way! The electricity bill will lessen by at least half and the in and out in and out and in and out of the front door...shall cease. Am I happy? Yes and no!

I have grown very used to my children being home most of this sumer break.No vacation for us this year. Too close to the woes of college tuition for a single mom and too difficult with a ‘tween who has special needs.

We tried a vaca in Arizona, and , after loading the car with every electronic known to man, every comfort item such as special blankets,pillows and specific toys, were all loaded into our economy size rental, we barely had room for three humans, one being nearly 6 foot.

Don’t forget all the food we stashed in our cooler for the 9 hour trip!(we had most of it melt 2 hrs into the trip...lesson #1..don’t bring meltable foods on a 9 hr trip) Last but not least, the 4 suitcases of clothes, because you never know what you’re going to feel like wearing!

Needless to say, the vaca was fabulous as we stayed in a private home with everything we could need, even a beautiful pool. Unfortunately, the teen spent most of the time on his electronic equipment, iPhone, iPod, iPad and I was really angry. My daughter with Down Syndrome had a great time but wanted her Pupa..which is her name for her toy pony that we absentmindedly left on the kitchen counter.

So, this summer we spent most of it tidying up the apartment, looking at summer enrichment programs, and watching MeTV...a station with VERY old TV shows from the 60, 70 and 80’s. Educational for my kids to see what humor was before all the jokes were sexual double entendres’. We also went to the park, local events, the beach, and whatever relative’s house wasn’t too far away. It was a nice relaxing summer but as usual, went by too quickly.

Now all the school shopping is complete, all the lazy days of summer tucked away for next year and the “ get down to business” attitudes start. I didn’t mention the great “F” word...no not that one..football...that’s material for my next article!

So the kids are up and out at 7:30 am, and I sit with my cold cup of coffee and look around.

The house is empty except for my feline crew that lazily sleep in the morning sun and me! I guess the surprise of the fall approaching so fast and school starting already, has me a little off guard. We didn’t get to clean out the garage, or refurbish my ancient desk and I still haven’t copied those photos for Auntie Barb, but I do have solitude, quiet and time to use the bathroom without being disturbed. That’s all good!

I look at my watch and realize its almost time for me to get ready for work, helping persons who have much more serious matters they deal with everyday. It keeps me centered and takes me away from whatever I am dealing with. like a sudden feeling of loneliness, missing my noisy door slamming, bathroom hogging, electricity using, and constant food eating kids.

This tells me a new school year is certainly upon us. Good, bad, whatever, this too shall pass! Namaste!