Fall Slackers

The burnt umbers, blazing oranges, rusts and ruddy tones of Fall are fast approaching. The lazy days of Summer are but a fading glimmer. Afternoons spent picking mussels off of damp rocks that surface with the tide and digging our toes into the sand have been folded up safely in the corners of my mind. They are tucked away now, ready to be opened on rainy mornings. On dark, chilly, winter nights when the hope of Spring is what I need to stay warm these memories will be there.

Grace, Chloe and Addison waiting for the school bus.

September has come and gone. October warrants non-stop days and even busier nights. As much as I'd love to relish in all that is Fall I simply haven't got the time.
-Teacher
-Taxi
-Tutor
-Nurse
-Storyteller extraordinaire
-Cleaning woman of the stars...just kidding...more like of the Princesses.
-Chef on a clock...if it can't be done in 15 minutes than it doesn't happen on a school night.
-Cheerleader...of multiple activities. This year we have horseback riding, 5th grade play practice and gymnastics. Gotta keep morale high, high, high!!
-Did I mention TAXI??
...Oh, wait..I'm Super Mama.
-Lover??? ...Hmmmm. What's that word mean?! When this will ever fit into the daily grind I'll never know. If you figure it out tell me.

Addi, lending Grace sisterly advice.

Can I squeeze in WRITER, ARTIST and possibly TRAVEL AGENT?!
I'm ready for a vacation!

To think I started out so eloquently.
HA!
Isn't this how it typically works?
We have grand plans.We envision our smiling children as they participate in their favorite sports or drama clubs.
We love the idea of it all "falling into place" in Fall.
BUT.
AHA!
This is exactly the point.
IT'S ONLY AN IDEA...A NOTION>>>A SWEET FANTASY.

Chloe unwinds by playing dress-up.

I adore smiling at my girlies as they tumble, twirl and jump.
I'm a proud parent.

I also LOVE Fall...
...the smells of nightly fires.
...the crunch of leaves as they crinkle under foot.
...layering sweaters, scarves and leggings make me smile. (so cozy)
...decorating for Halloween gives me happy goosebumps!

I'm also stretched so thin that I've become transparent.
Did I mention that I'm a teacher?
Have I mentioned that I hate homework.
Now that my three kids are in school I don't ever want to assign "at home projects" to my students again.
One word: PAINFUL.
The thought of torturing another parent or child makes me wince.

There are days when no one wants to do anything.
Those are the times that I think,"but what kind of a message am I sending to my daughter? I don't want her to not go...she's on a team...other people are counting on her...we don't want her to withdraw from activities...to end up walking the streets aimlessly."
I imagine a wayward teen wandering the back roads in a daze.
Then I "check my head" and remember that:
1) Our kids are KIDS
2) Our kids are REALLY GOOD KIDS
3) I'M WAY TOO DRAMATIC sometimes.

After a long day of school we all could use a day of nothingness.
Wii be ready...it's dance time!!
Future be damned...PJ's rock!
Will our children become social slackers because Mom and Dad let them skip cheer leading this week?

Sorry Julia!...Your head turned into a wii remote.

Think not.


PS-
My incredibly successful, overachieving, brilliant, dedicated, hard working, loving husband was given the nickname "Slack" as a teenager.

PPS- He's the farthest thing from it.