Spring Breakin' II Electric Boogaloo!

It's Spring Break around here. We get two weeks of Spring Break. Yep. If you're a mom, you read that right - TWO weeks. Oh, it's not so bad, last year it was THREE.

We're at the end of week one. I'm not one of those, "My child needs a break" kind of moms. I wish I was. But I know what goes on at school - believe me, they're getting more of a break half the time at school, than they would be at home with me. So from 8:30 to 11:30 am, they're mine.

I see this as a time to teach them things they will actually USE in life. Like cooking, cleaning, laundry, piano, crafts, patience, kindness, etc. (yes! they will use crafting in their adult life, don't laugh!) Okay. So the patience and kindness was out the window when three of the five were yelled at and put in time out by seven a.m. on the fourth day of vacation. But I AM trying!

Whether you know this or not, it's a lot less work to NOT teach your kids. Teaching and training is a full time job. I've always wanted to home school...I'm rethinking. It uses all my patience to calmly and happily explain things to the kids. Make age appropriate chores. Let the older kids bake, cook, and craft. I am not a patient person, you know. With all of the activities, I also try to get them to the park, make a picnic, go the beach or pool/splash pad as well. I mean. Really. I'm pretty sure I spent all of my Spring Breaks in front of the TV. (and was just fine, thank you very much!)

But. And here is the big BUT! It makes me crazy to spend so much effort on each and every kid - but SOMEONE is still ALWAYS complaining, fighting, whining, crying, hitting, yelling, etc!!! (one child that will be two this month, and another that is four - no names! - are the biggest culprits, BTW.) I seriously cannot stand it! It is SO frustrating to give and give, but someone is always unhappy about something. And to tell you the truth, if it's not one kid, it's another. (I realize that the littles are the hardest ones, but when I am trying to give so much to the older kids, it makes me nuts with all the crying - welcome to my life)

Late nights with friends and a movie, playing at the beach/park all afternoon with friends, freedom to do what they want after their chores (time with me) is over. And still, they gripe about one thing or another. I know it's normal (tell me it's normal - TELL me it's normal!). But it's making me crazy.

So, last night after Peter got home, we ordered pizza because one of the boys was having a friend over. When we arrived back at the house, I wanted Peter to park one place and he wanted another. (totally stupid, I know) But after I had a hissy, and he told me I was being ridiculous, I said this: "Me! Me?! I know it's dumb. I know it's a control issue, but right now I have NO, zero, none- no control over my life. Every single person in this house wants me to do what they want me to do. Sorry! I need a break! (not quite yelling, not quite crying either - you get the gist.)

Then. I hopped on my bike and rode off!

Oh yeah. I showed them! (haha) I rode to our little tiny community library. It was a gorgeous evening and I enjoyed my ride. The library has a small periodicals room with couches and coffee tables. You know what I did?! That's right. I read Brides magazine. Yes-siree. And I liked it. AND then I read Good Housekeeping, with a special article about Kelly Ripa. And you know what? I felt better. All better. Ahhhh. I put my feet on the coffee table, slouched down, looked and picked apart every wedding dress, cake and flower. I smiled and laughed at Kelly Ripa. And then I felt better.

An hour later I hopped on my bike, tooled home on the beach path with a warm breeze and the moon lighting my way, and a smile on my face. Remembering the fun day at the beach we had, and how the pool was perfect and how much I love to be in the water.

Oh? Was I upset earlier? Hm. I seem to have forgotten...