{"id":2884,"date":"2013-08-09T07:30:19","date_gmt":"2013-08-09T11:30:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/njcts.org\/tsparents\/?p=2884"},"modified":"2013-08-09T07:30:19","modified_gmt":"2013-08-09T11:30:19","slug":"summer-is-ending","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/njcts.org\/tsparents\/summer-is-ending\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer is ending"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I used to write for BabyCenter, or Good Housekeeping, I’d use all sorts of clever titles to get reader’s attention. It didn’t matter if it were necessarily true<\/span><\/em> or not.\u00a0It simply meant that it was enticing enough to\u00a0get someone to click on my post.<\/p>\n

Because then, for $13 per post, I was able to make\u00a0some fancy advertiser\u00a0a gajillion dollars for investing in the site. I’m not saying that ensures me a ticket to hell, but it’s not entirely honest.<\/span><\/p>\n

So now, while I’m not writing for any corporate sites right now where my title would\u00a0say, “Having\u00a0baby No. 3!” (which would then go on to explain that the baby I’m really having is not in my uterus, but instead a dream for a peaceful start of school), I’m just going to be more honest.<\/span><\/p>\n

Which\u00a0is why maybe 34 people regularly visit me here. For those of you who do, God bless you. And this is what my title means today.<\/span><\/p>\n

Summer is ending!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

It was glorious. It was full\u00a0of Miss L and Cam and Jul. We took my mom\u00a0on errands every Tuesday. While she did not ever win the\u00a0Lottery, she did make sure the\u00a099 Cents store, Vons, the post office and Bank of America stayed in business.<\/span><\/p>\n

Every Monday we would visit Pasadena where my kids would do art with my best friend, Topanga T, while I chatted with Sam about life, love, tics and religion.<\/span><\/p>\n

Occasionally, we’d take a weekend in a beach house or camping or our cabin (oh, the cabin upgrade) where my discipline schedule would turn into Lord of the Flies. (Free food! Stay up late! Whoo hooo!)<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

My children\u00a0learned\u00a0that if they did not\u00a0adhere to their one hour\/day of computers they would not get computers the next day. Mama learned not to feel guilty. Instead of saying “Why why why?” they learned to answer “Yes, Mama.”<\/span><\/p>\n

My beautiful daughter met a new neighborhood friend.\u00a0In addition, her best friend, Miss L, is moving directly across the street as of, um, now<\/span><\/em>. They will also share a class next year. Their teacher is so fxxxed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"weird\"<\/span><\/a> My husband and I\u00a0are learning to communicate day by day. My faith is getting stronger. And while my house still needs painting and my floors\u00a0still need varnishing, I’ve accepted the fact that I’m\u00a0not going\u00a0back to work to make these things happen. Instead, I will finish my book and see\u00a0if it sells.<\/span><\/p>\n

And if\u00a0it doesn’t sell through a fancy publisher, and it’s not done yet, I have learned to forgive myself. Because more important than anything else in my universe if the love of my babies. Their soul,\u00a0not my finances (and certainly not a few tics) are what will define my life.<\/span><\/p>\n

I am feeling sad that soon my daughter — who is sleeping at her new friend’s home tonight – will be embarking on fourth grade. My beautiful boy is starting fifth. I will be here. Alone.\u00a0With an empty screen and\u00a0an empty start.<\/span><\/p>\n

And while that’s\u00a0incredibly glorious, I’m a bit weepy. Because these two little beings\u00a0mean pretty much everything to me.<\/span><\/p>\n

Until\u00a0next time, I\u00a0pray that tics don’t steal too much of your joy. Because who you have in your home right now, tics or not, that’s enough.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"dom<\/span><\/a><\/span>P.S.: That’s Stinker and his new “masked ranger! Squeeeker!”<\/span><\/p>\n

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