Summer is hard-fun. There are days that are easy and peaceful; full of non-aggressive play dates, sun, water, patient voices, acquiescent children, and ice cream cones.
Then there are days where the sleep was just never enough, the kids wake up extra early and immediately grind already fragile nerves. Before 8 am they have drunk the full reserve of mom-patience that had been intended to last the full day. Then the timeouts start, followed by the yelling, and then finally the full-on scary mommy voice and face in a desperate attempt to get some order up in here.
What then? Well a very mature, self-controlled mom might give herself a timeout behind a locked door and formulate some sort of plan to not wring everyone's necks. Maybe pray, maybe eat some chocolate, come out recomposed.
Or maybe, like me, you just have to leave. I'm not talking about leaving alone (although if you can, then go for it!). I'm talking about getting everyone out to experience something new, expend some energy, and if you're lucky, meet a mom-friend who gets you.
In other words, avoid the problems that arise from trying to be home together.
This has seriously saved our summer. These impromptu meetings and unplanned play dates. Honestly they are more for the moms than kids and I'm 100% ok with that. They are not elaborate or fancy, and I may even forget to pack a snack (my kids are part of an epidemic of starving young ones who wither from hunger after 56 short minutes).
Really some days it becomes about just trying to pass the time in a way where no one says something they'll regret later (that would be me). Sadly I've not succeeded at this a few times this past week.
In one of my heart-racing, head throbbing, I'm about to verbally take-down one of my children moments last Friday, I texted this picture to my husband and my friend who understands me so well.
(underneath those useless headphones are some in-ear earplugs. They were still letting noise in so I put on another layer of ear-protection in absolute futility, but at least I felt like I was trying)
This was the best I could do at reducing the noise and literally putting a guard over my mouth. There was a twenty minute screaming tantrum that happened in my kitchen while I wore this garb and tried to make some sandwiches. I looked like a fool and that duct tape hurt when I ripped it off, but the payoff was this: we moved on with our day without me throwing out hurtful words or joining my child in the kitchen floor scream sesh.
So for the rest of my summer, in my pocket you'll find a pair of earplugs, a list of all local parks/play date/outing opps, and if you know where I could buy a little roll of duct tape that could clip to a belt loop or something, please let me know.
It's summer time fellow moms, and we are in the thick of it.
How's it going for you? Any sanity saving tips you want to share? Solidarity.
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