2. Write a blog post inspired by the word: substitute
Seven years ago I wrote a blog post about how Kainoa was entering preschool and for the first time in years I would have a quiet home for a few hours. Up until then I didn’t really understand why parents complain so much about having kids home from school for the summer. I would never have predicted that seven years later I would be feeling the EXACT same way now with a 14, 13, and 11 year old…along with a baby niece also heading off to preschool. I have been waiting for a quiet house for far too long, I love my kids, but this really IS like adult Christmas! In honor of those same exact feelings still seven years later, I’m reposting them. It’s a substitute post. I know that is a quite a stretch on the writing prompt, but it’s all I can muster! ;) ENJOY!:
When I started blogging Kainoa was a brand new baby. Maile and Laina were ages three and two and I had a gaggle of daycare kids in and out of my house all day long.
My every moment in life was revolved around keeping my kids alive. On more than one occasion my husband came home to find me in tears at the end of the day because when baby Kainoa napped, the children played and when the children napped baby Kainoa played and I was just plain worn out.
I remember reading other blogs…women who had older kids wrote about how difficult summer was because *GASP* their school aged children were going to be HOME everyday!!!
I’m going to be honest.
I was a little judgey. And tired. But mostly judgey.
You’re whining because your self entertained EIGHT year old, who can color and watch movies and have play dates and is able to access a semi-logical portion of their brain is home everyday??
God forbid you have to spend time with YOUR KIDS!?!
Here I was home everyday, all day, and all year long with three kids who all wanted to be held, rocked, entertained, cleaned, and fed at the same exact time ALL THE TIME.
Well my friends, times have changed. My two and three year olds are now six and seven and holy mother of God school could not come soon enough.
I finally get it. It’s not about not loving them or enjoying who they are, it’s that school aged kids are a whole different breed of child to learn to deal with. Are they easier than a two year old? In my opinion YES, but so is a cage full of parrots and I don’t want to be alone with those all day either. In a lot of ways school-agers can be just as needy as toddlers.
They pick at each other, they poke, they prod, and they argue with me. Do they color? Yes…but certainly not on a used coloring book. Do they watch movies? Yes…when they can agree on something they all want to see. Do they have play dates? I don’t welcome children into this house unless I’m being paid to put up with them. Period. So no.
This summer has been filled to the brim with activities planned for them in an attempt to keep them moving and engaged and happy. But I’m telling you, I could run them ragged for two weeks solid at Disneyland and the moment we returned they would be all “I’m bored…what are we doing today…SHE TOUCHED MY ARM!!!”
And though I’ve been holding on to afternoon naps with every ounce of will I have left in me, they just will. not. sleep anymore!
This year, my two oldest will be in school full time. My youngest gets to go to preschool…and I? For a few hours a day, a few days a week? Will relish in the sound of the dishwasher humming away in my quiet house while I do whatever I damn well please.
I’ve been looking forward to this for years. It’s like Christmas is coming and it’s going to last ten whole months. Once I get a taste of what life is like in a semi-quiet home I can pretty much guarantee I’ll become one of those moms who complains about all those unnecessary holidays the kids are getting. Because you know what? I’ve earned it!
The valuable take home lesson of the day today is:
Kids don’t stop being difficult as they age…and any woman who has survived six years of tantrum throwing toddler(s)…CAN COMPLAIN ABOUT WHATEVER SHE WANTS.
John Holton says
Love the line about a cageful of parrots. I think I’ll use it for next week’s One-Liner Wednesday, if that’s all right with you…
Kim says
I kinda feel you on this one, but I was lucky enough that my sons (who are 14 months apart!!!) mostly got along. And during their summers, they went to their dad’s for a month, so I basically got to take a month-long nap when I wasn’t working. I don’t remember traumatic, exhausting summers, but instead I remember all the pushing and prodding and shouting and fighting during the mornings during the school year because no one would get up out of bed and get ready without a free-for-all. And after the school/work day, there was always AT LEAST one practice or game going on every single day of the week. I am glad they are young adults now! But (SPOILER ALERT!) still not much easier. Even though they are working and definitely self-entertaining and able to take care of themselves. I am trying to kick them out of the nest, but they don’t want their Mama alone (I kicked their stepdad out of the nest a few years ago).
Anyway, I know you’re really excited about having some time to yourself, and having a quieter house! I haven’t yet written a Writer’s Workshop post this week because I’m lame. But I am trying to settle on a topic and see if I can’t manage to crank something out.