You know it’s summer when one of the things on my to-do list in the middle of a “normal” workday is to take these hooligans to the local dive shop to try on wet suits. Is it just me or do everyone else’s kids revert back about 10 years when you visit the places they need to be acting the most mature and responsible? We’re all working hard to get them officially certified to dive with us on vacation this year. That includes getting them enrolled for their confined water dives this week. I’ve spent much time convincing the dive shop that they’re responsible enough to get through the dives quickly. They understand the seriousness of the sport and won’t need extra training or instruction simply because they are young.
But give us 3 minutes in the restroom trying on wetsuits, and you’d think I was making the whole thing up.
Guess who else reverted back about 10 years in their parenting as soon as they started making a wild ruckus?! Yep. I started in on the “You stop that right now, or else!” talk, that always works such miracles. Then the switch flipped and I suddenly gave in to the laughter of two little boys horsing around in neoprene suits just like 3-year-olds in diapers and cowboy hats. We all had a good laugh.
And of course, I snapped a few pictures so we will remember it.
The whole situation is just a quick screenshot in the life of a mother, in summer. I still have all the responsibilities I usually have during the school year, with the addition of kids all. day. long. They might be bigger now, but they still want interaction. Sometimes it just means the noise is bigger, the messes are bigger and the pressure in my mind is bigger. Because they feel more like grown-ups these days and they are so much fun to hang out with, I’d actually love to just throw caution to the wind and sit around the house with them all day.
But that’s not the path I’m on right now.
And that’s okay. It’s okay because life is really made up of moments. The special moments we remember. The moments we choose to be present. The moments we let our guard down and engage on their level, in their space and time.
Like the screenshots in the bathroom at the scuba shop.
You don’t have to be all-in, all the time.
Choose to make a few moments special and memorable each day. Those are the moments the ones you love will remember.
Don’t let mom guilt, or any other kind of negative voice, hold you to an impossible standard this summer.
Make moments.
Take screenshots.
Those are the ones they will remember.
to more love,
Crystal
