Its the end of Summer and part of me is relieved that the kids will be back in school, but that also means I have to get up earlier and make sure clothes are clean and lunches are packed. I should probably start going to bed sooner, but then something won't get done. I could choose not to do the dishes one night or maybe not grade papers, but then the next day there will be twice as much. Some weeks I'm motivated to get it all done and find ways to be more efficient. Its like completing another level of Jewel Mania with three stars when your last several attempts were only one or two stars. As a parent I have one star days and I have three star days. I definitely feel better when I do better, but my other responsibilities as a teacher and granddaughter, etc. make it hard to always have three star days.
I debate the choices I make as a parent daily: should I let the boys crash on the couch or should I be making them sleep in their beds? When school starts they know its back to their beds, but sleeping on the couch seems to represent Summer freedom. We are growing some of our own food and raising chickens but its hard not to let the kids have Pop-Tarts and Slurpees. My kids are actually great about eating fruits and vegetables and eat 99% of what I put in front of them. I'm no Tiger mom and my kids will not play Carnegie Hall, but then many other children won't either. It would be wrong to say that since your kids are average that means you are a bad parent.
Its late and I should try and get a little sleep before the day's activities get in full swing. Let's shoot for a great day of average parenting!
