So, it’s back to reality this week. Ramping up for school and sports –received the first ice hockey email this weekend, yikes — and the rush and grind of the school year.
Two things were made clear to me this summer, especially on vacation. One insight I had was how much I really love it when Tom is with the family 24/7. My day is a whole lot better when he is around. He is fun and energetic, which is great, but he also is useful, especially when he isn’t worn out by work. You know, when you grow up in big families, I guess everyone is trained to make themselves useful. We may have hated all those chores as kids, but at least you know how to take care of things when you are older. It’s a treat having two adults handling all the meals and childcare and driving an shopping and entertainment when we are on vacation.
It’s also become important to me that my kids know how to be useful and flexible. It is awareness development more than anything else, to enter a situation and know you can carry your own weight. We had a series of visitors while were at the beach, and let’s just say these children were a lot of work. I am not a neatnick, let’s get that clear. But we were using someone else’s home, and I grew increasingly irritated with the wet suits and towels on the floor, the chip bags spilled on the furniture, the constant reminders to take muddy feet off the wall, and please, please, flush the toilet. One kid took multiple showers and made multiple changes of clothes every day, leaving the dirty ones like droppings through the house. I had to hide food so we could have meals. I found one kid reading my email, another one playing on my phone. At one point, I got snippy at one of the kids who had inundated me with requests. This kid asked me to make a sandwich. I said all the sandwich stuff was right there on the table and they could help themselves. They looked at all the choices and said, “I don’t eat any of that. What else have you got?”
“In case you haven’t noticed, this isn’t a restaurant,” I said.
“Well, I want to eat. When are you going food shopping?”
I turned and walked out to where Tom was reading and sat down.”Help me before I say something really horrible.”
He turned a page.”Don’t worry,” he said. “They are leaving. I made the call.”
“Tom, are we going to have to start stating house rules or something? Don’t tell me have come to that.” I imagined a posted sign as people entered the door. In this house, we do not wipe snot on the doorframe . . ..
He shook his head in disbelief. “It’s been wild.”
Even Dex and Neve, who are hit-and-miss in the chore department, fell onto the floor in mock exhaustion when they left. “Look at this place. It’s a mess.”
“Yeah, they were a lot of work.”
I held my tongue. They both looked at other. “I’ll get the broom,” Dex sighed.