I hate to admit that I find Summer depressing. All of these happy people with free time and no commitments. Spending time in their yards tending to flowers or an afternoon with a book and iced tea.
Am I suppose to find Summer as easy and free as licking a Popsicle? I love my kids and wouldn’t change anything for the world, but how is a mom with small kids suppose to enjoy this season?
Instead I apologize to my kids that their sister has to nap as she is so grumpy. When we go to the pool, we cannot stay all day – the baby is crying.
Instead of spending my summer in the fun and sun, I spend it in the kitchen – 3 meals plus 2 snacks, maybe 3 for 4 people, sometimes 5 – cooking, dishes, cleaning, dishes, sweeping, cooking, dishes. Finding time to grocery shop. Finding the cabinets empty by the next day.
And I listen to my kids tell me that I am not fun. That we do nothing fun.
I just made you fold laundry pick up your toys – that wasn’t fun?
Do you think I am having fun opening the fridge for the 1000th time today? Scrubbing the floor on my knees for the 3rd time today after the baby dumps her food on the floor?
Do you think you can just PLAY – outside, inside, upside down? I don’t care where you do it – just do it. PLAY.
I provide your nourishment and your toilet paper, not your fun.all.day.long. I missed that on my job description.
Yes I want to go to the zoo and the beach and the pool and the playground – but not everyday.
And frankly it is hard to get there when I have all of this cooking to do.
Two months yet to go, I need to embrace this summer thing before it does me in.
Help? Thoughts? Commissary? Love?
Thoughts. Lots of thoughts. And understanding. It’s hard on both sides of the aisle. No solutions. But a night out for drinks soon?
Molly recently posted..We are a family that does stuff
Hahaha!!! I hear you. I am starting to get to that same realization now that the summer has arrived and the baby is no longer an infant-who-I-can-take-everywhere-without-consideration. He is now a baby on a schedule…
I gave you 2 awards on my blog:
http://mformommy.blogspot.com/2010/07/award-overwhelm.html
Marieke recently posted..25 Day Challenge – Day 22
I would recommend a pool! A ten to twelve foot radius with a blow up ring. It can be filled to however deep you want it, so fill with just enough water to splash and have fun in, not drown in. We have an Intex and it makes our summers turn from grumpy to great! We bought the foam play interlocking squares to cover the concrete patio and placed it on there. It’s lasted five years, and is still going strong. Don’t I sound like a commercial, but really, it changed our summer life. (I was joking about the rubbermaid pool if you read that post!)
I feel your pain! I don’t have 3 of my own but I’m taking care of 3 this summer. I think it takes us an hour to get out of the house! I do end up driving to the mall to play or a museum though because I can’t stand to be in the house all day—I bring the stress upon myself! In addition to a blow-up pool, we also make life a little fun with a water table.
Asashia recently posted..Tuesday Tag Along
Thanks Molly – Yes, let’s go out..soon!
Thank you so much Marieke – off to visit your blog, you are so sweet. I promised myself that I wasn’t going to worry about schedules for my 3rd baby – but then I gave birth to the devil/vampiress and I find myself enjoying a schedule naptime and very early bedtime.
Dana – A pool. Do I have to blow it up? Refill it daily? Does it come with a pool boy? Off to research options – thank you for the unpaid commercial my friend.
Asashia – Yes I do cause my own stress – we mother’s need to give ourselves a break…the water table is an awesome idea though – we have never owned one.
xoxot
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Tracy Morrison, Tracy Morrison. Tracy Morrison said: I don't think I will make it to September. http://sellabitmum.com/?p=741 [...]
Sounds like someone needs a night in my backyard with a bottle of Sunfish and only the bugs to contend with…sending love! And come on over…tomorrow night?
kp recently posted..boys just want to have fun
Tracy~
I have never met you, but can I tell you how much I love you???!!!??? You write about all of the feelings that I have that I truly feel guilty about, and you make me feel like IT’S OKAY! You’re a stylish, educated, cultured person, and I know if you feel this way, IT’S OKAY!
I am in the same situation that you are this summer. I have Caroline, 4, and Sydney, who just turned one. I know things will get better/easier, but right now they are SO at opposite ends of the spectrum. Yesterday we were at the mall, and Caroline wanted to play in the play area. Well, no way was Sydney going to just sit in her stroller and watch……but, she can’t walk yet! So, I tried to let her play around a bit, too. That lasted about 5 minutes until she almost got run over by a little boy, and it wasn’t his fault—I shouldn’t have had her out there. So, frustrated, I round Caroline up and tell her we have to leave—her sister is too small and will freak out in the stroller. I really do feel badly for Caroline. She’s had to make a lot of sacrifices and really “grow up” since Sydney was born. But, on the flip side, this is for a short time, and she’ll have a sister and a, I hope!!, friend for life now.
Sorry to blab. But, I hear you 100% loud and clear!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jen
Tracy, I love how honest you are. I read a lot of blogs where life is all sunshine and roses and honestly that is A-OK if a blogger only chooses to share their sunshine and roses. I mean, it’s their blog and that’s all good. But I also need your blog so I can say “Oh, hey that same damn thing is happening in my house!” And I also need your blog because you make me laugh (A LOT) and you are an amazing photographer and you have the cutest kids ever.
Now, as for your summer issues – I am with the blogger that suggested the pool. I’d definitely research that idea.
Amanda M. recently posted..Interfaith
OH, and RIGHT after I finished typing this, I heard: “So, Mama, what are we going to do today?” Grrr.
Amanda M. recently posted..Interfaith
Tracy! Oh, I sooooo remember those days! Nothing is easy, especially when you have a grumpy baby. My sister would always says, “Larissa, this is the easy stuff..just wait until they become teenagers!” Well, as my kids are growing older (13 and 9), I see that there was some wisdom in that comment. However, it was NOT helpful at the time when I was so exhausted and frustrated and I just wanted ONE minute (ok, I really wanted an hour–or a weekend!) to myself!! So, I do commiserate with you and I am sending you a big hug and a reassuring smile. I would also hand you a glass of wine if I lived close by!
I absolutely LOVE your blog. Your honesty gives a lot of women out there reassurance in this crazy life we call motherhood! Keep writing!
Old friend from NC,
Larissa Igo Warne
Tracy – The pool saved us for several years as well. Another idea is to buy an adult sized tent to set up in the back yard. We have one (and we never camp) that the girls love. It has been a campsite (with piled log faux fire and sticks with marshmallows), a stuffed animal hospital, a restaurant, a magic castle, etc. Do you have a swingset? Also, you can buy a small sandbox and fill it with small pebbles rather than sand and the girls love it. I try to relax my expectations for the summer, it is ok if you have cereal or instant oatmeal and banannas for dinner sometimes…hang in there, I feel your pain!
Oh! Another idea that really saves me is hooking up with another desperate mom with a baby. Trade off big kids, my house on Tuesday your house on Thursday, set a limit like 1 1/2 to 2 hours or whatever you can stand.
I’m right with you Tracy. Summer is fun, right? The kids want to be outside from dawn to dusk. My two year old wants to be with big brother and sister. She cries everytime the door opens because I can’t send her out with them without me going as well. I have things to do. Plus, I am a heat grouch! I hate the heat! YUCK!
Tina recently posted..Torn
kp – yes wine…I will call you.
Jen – I think that is what the frustration is – you want to play and have fun with your big kid – but the little keeps interrupting and the bigs are like “this sucks” (and I love you too…)
Amanda M – you are so funny and sweet. I hope you guys are doing okay after your move. Thinking about you.
Larissa – My fellow high school cheerleader – so good to hear from you! I am in Indiana the week of July 20th and I am hunting you down for wine.
Janell – We have been doing some simple meals thank goodness – but the biggest person in the house, who shall remain nameless, still asks “what is for dinner?” as somehow Cheerios isn’t high on his list. ugh. I wish my kids would go outside – we have a swing set and they are afraid of BUGS BUGS! The tent is a great idea also(except for possible lice contamination) – as is switching kids with a friend.
Tina – hate the heat too..lol. I owe you a phone call…
xoxo,t
tracy recently posted..Finding Happiness…
Okay, I am already getting scared by Larissa’s comment about teenagers. Thanks for the reminder that while things can be frustrating at this stage, at least this is the “simple” stuff in comparison
I hope you’re still blogging adn we’re all sharing ideas when our kids are teenagers, Tracy 
oh girl i have so been there! this is the first year i think i have fully enjoyed summer with the girls. i have 2 older girls, the youngest being 4 1/2 years younger. they did not understand a couple years ago why we couldn’t stay at the pool all day, why we had to take breaks for the baby…….all the things you listed.
now the girls are older, can fend for themselves and sarah does not need as much down time.
great honest post!
Michelle recently posted..Legos
with all my ramblings and nodding of the head i forget to tell you how great the pictures are!! beautiful girl!
Michelle recently posted..Legos
Jen – I am not sure I will make it to the teenage years..and I will be so old, they will have to wheel me around.
Oh Michelle – thank you for letting me know there is a light soon. I hope this is the hardest Summer and it is all uphill from here.
xoxo,t
Totally understand!! We live on a farm 5 miles from town, so the boys didn’t get to see their friends most of the summer. They will look back and realize how much time you spent with them and they will be glad you were home all summer not working. It might take until they are 20 – but they will appreciate the time you put in one day.
As for your summer – well, they do move out eventually
Audrey recently posted..Friday Follow 40 and Over-
I’m here from Friday Follow. I feel exactly the same way, only I work outside the home, so summer isn’t much fun for me and my kids either because I can’t be home doing fun stuff with them.
This is my first time stopping by, and I LOVE your taste in skirts, as well as your beautiful photography of your adorable girls! Great job! You need to give us a tutorial!