Bedtime is moments away; I have just completed all the extra details for the week ahead. Christmas break is very welcomed time off, however, by this point I am anxious to get back to a productive schedule. The over committed holiday season is finally wrapped up and we return to our much needed routine of school, work, homework and practice in a hurry tomorrow morning.
The first week of Christmas break is great but anything beyond that is just running-a-muck. Having my kids home creates a swirl of instant mayhem with late nights equaling long lazy mornings, chores neglected, lack of sleep for me, unorganized meals especially when they eat the ingredients I need for dinner while I am at work and several un-important calls I receive while at work, one of which to tell me that Corbin and Casey are forcing their sister to do the Jillian Michaels Extreme Shed and Shred workout which I couldn’t care less about – follow the golden rule kids to only call if someone is bleeding or the house is on fire. I cannot get them back to school fast enough!! I was practically skipping and singing all day long with excitement.
Getting out the door is not a pleasant task and in no way a cooperative effort. I have to implement and enforce rules to encourage movement towards our goal of getting to the car; my leveraging tool is missing their sport that evening to whoever can’t make it to the car on time. The next crucial step starts with any sign of life I can rally. They are not instantly responsive to my voice but if I can just get them to move a leg, wave a hand for a millisecond or better yet, lift their head ever so slightly, I am confident their brain will soon enter the race from pillow to being seated in the car. By the 2nd or 3rd attempt at waking these bear cubs my approach becomes militant, not like the tenderness and joy they received in their younger years – I miss those happy faces in the morning. My current day zombies bump along the halls aimlessly from 5:50am to 6:40 while I attempt to keep our time line in check (generally through gritted teeth and a tone that would resemble a cheerleader on crack) – it a mess at best but somehow we all make it to 3 destinations via 2 counties and 5 cities by 8:30am. That is enough of a success for me!
Bright and early tomorrow we will hit the traffic once again, stopping for our traditional McDonald Monday of 2 sausage McGriddles, 1 breakfast burrito, an orange juice and a chocolate milk. Though I am not a big fan of Ronnie McD food, this is our motivational gift to Monday that started when the boys began high school. We used to only participate in a family favorite of Filet o’ Fish Fridays during Lent but have since added Monday’s however that is the extent that I am willing to contribute to that big red clown. Jackie doesn’t join in the McDonald Monday experience but is a good sport to get up a few extra minutes early for the stop while she eats her apple and peanut butter on the go.
The next hour will be spent crawling down Interstate 5 at 20 MPH. We listen to the radio, critique the topics, flip to our favorite songs and discuss all the happenings in life. These moments creeping along through traffic are worth every minute and continue to strengthen our unity. It’s during this drive I recognize the connective camaraderie which is the mortar that will seal their sibling relationship way beyond these final years at home. The rest of the day will be spent going different directions fulfilling varying interests though this hour we are stuck with each other is priceless. Memories in the making!
Reasonably Happy: 