Summer....Summer.....Summer

Ah, summer. I have been looking forward to the days of summer since the constant snowfall of February. I envisioned myself as super-mom; taking the kids swimming, adventuring, on rides on the local trolley. Hikes in the (sort of ) woods followed by lovely picnics. Well, the metaphorical "long, lazy" days of summer are no such thing. Maybe it's the fact that air conditioning in almost every venue allows us to move just as quickly, despite the heat. Maybe it's the fact that I signed my kids up for every camp and lesson that I could find on the internet. Maybe it's the fact that we have already left town for two separate "vacations." Maybe it's just the fact that I have chosen to have three children and as I have previously mentioned, three feels like six. I can't imagine what six feels like.

This summer has been very eventful. A night at Great Wolf Lodge (a shameless plug for the place where my family gets along best), several nights at my brother's house in Minnesota, more than a week en route to and in South Carolina. Two zoo camps, one princess dance camp, 2 cheer leading camps. Currently we are in the midst of two consecutive weeks of swimming lessons. Two more zoo camps are to follow. Piano and voice lessons have been a weekly event through all this madness. After each darling daughter finishes with one more round of zoo camp, we will be all set to start our summer vacation. Unfortunately, summer will be over and Madeline will be heading to second grade and Sawyer to her second of three years of preschool (which are preceded by two years of Mommy and Me class). Do I sound as though I over schedule my kids? It sounds like it to me. Yep, I'm that mom.

I would like to think that we could stay at home every day, enjoying each others' company and smiling as we work our way through puzzles, games and crafts. It just doesn't work that way. My kids can't agree on an activity. They are too divided by their ages and abilities (6, 3, 1) to work together for any significant length of time. They have different needs and interests. They need to be stimulated in different ways. Hence all the lessons and running around.

Of course, summer is complicated not only by being rushed and accountable for being places on time. Summer is also complicated by developmental road bumps and behavioral snags in the life of a child. Madeline, who is normally the easiest of my children has hit one of the previously mentioned road bumps. Because Sawyer has learned some effective ways to manage her emotions, Madeline has stepped up as the next contestant on "I Need Constant Attention." The poor kid has been struggling with some anxiety. And when I say anxiety, I mean outright FEAR and PANIC in the face of thunder storms. And they happen alot. Especially on the beach in South Carolina. And in Indiana. And everywhere else. But not when there is a blue sky. And she is even scared of them then. I have done my best to avoid my own panic attacks over the situation; I have a significant history of engaging in unfounded worry. I have tried to let her have her process of growth. I have tried to be there for her. I have attempted to coach her through her fears. (I was a therapist, for heaven's sake.) Nonetheless, I will not stand for worries when they migrate to a place called manipulation, and I refuse to allow her to be consumed by her fears. She must face them. She is required to learn coping skills. And she is. I can see the light(ening hee-hee) at the end of the proverbial tunnel. Girlfriend is up to the challenge of facing her fears. Yesterday, she got dressed in a suit of all denim (not sure why the jean jacket was necessary) and headed outside to face her sworn enemy: THE THUNDERSTORM. She concluded that thunder storms are actually quite interesting, and after a few tears, proceeded with her day. We are one step closer.

To wrap it up, no matter what season or phase I look forward to-for the reprieve that it will bring, there is no such thing. Each and every season and phase will be filled with complications. Some of the time, I create my own complications through over scheduling or being unable to find it within myself to say no. Other times, the complications come, regardless of my best efforts and intentions. I am learning to just accept and even expect them to be there. Smooth sailing is just not an option for me. I am beginning to understand that this is a fact. Nonetheless, I accept the challenge of what is to come.