The Summer Begins

As a teacher, my time is spent thinking mainly about 20 or so children who belong to other people. Now, I do love my job, and I get very attached to the children, so I am certainly not complaining, but my favorite time of year is when I can wish all my charges a fond farewell (knowing I see most of them again in September) and devote all my attention to my two lovely boys, Peanut and Button.

Peanut and Button were the names I gave the blobs in the ultrasound pictures I so lovingly cherished as I carried my boys through all 8 months of pregnancy...yep, they were in a rush to come out...nothing has changed since!

It is now officially the first day of summer and I am very excited by all the plans I have in store for Peanut and Button I know I will not fulfill most of what I dream of doing over the summer. I may even sink into mild insanity as I attempt, once again, to be super mom. There is pressure, you know, to be as great a mom as I am a teacher...but state tests are a walk in the park next to cultivating well mannered, articulate and empathetic over-achievers in a short two months!

I know Button needs some work on speech and has yet to experience any work with reading and letters. I did it from the first syllable out of Peanuts's mouth, but not so much for Button, who is two years younger and about to enter Kindergarten. Feelin' yucky about that omission, by the way! So I really plan to work on speech, and sight words this summer. Peanut is reading above grade level, can perform mathematical operations beyond grade level; he loves multiplication, and can pitch, hit and serve like a pro. Poor Button is feeling it...I can see how he fights to be as good as Peanut all the time...that is my next goal...to get Buttons's self esteem up.

So, today we paid a visit to Nana and Poppa's house as Lulu was visiting from Florida. Peanut has just recently had his first tennis lesson from Nana and love it. He went again today to play some more. B was offered the same but did not want to...perhaps feeling he does not want to even attempt to compete at tennis. So daddy and I took Button to mini-golf. He had a great time despite not getting his usual hole in one. (I did, but I don't want to brag!) Button was not so hot on following the rules, Daddy and I had yet another moment of concern over possible ADD but we try not to over analyze. I did make a mental note to book the physical a little earlier for B though.

We all enjoyed sharing how each child had fun and woes during the day. Peanut found out serving was much harder than he imagined and Button managed to drop his ice cream on the floor for a major disappointment moment. Oh well, we move on and try to forget.

Tonight I set up notes to each child. Peanut has a note asking him to wake us no later than 8am and to read the fire truck book to his brother ready for a brief activity in the morning. Button has been asked to think about the letter F for fire truck. When I get up we will stick stickers all over the house on items that start with F. Each sticker will the initial of the child so they can see who gets the most..I predict Peanut will so must think of a way to help Button. I really want B to think of letters and words though. Next we will plan out the safety escape route that we have been meaning to create all winter! Multi-curricular experiences for my own kids. After that, what do I plan to do? Well the rest of the day will be fun and child-led play with me trying not to be a helicopter parent and giving them space..except for reading time, snuggle time and dinner time...a time when we can all reconnect.

Thus you have my PLAN. I have no idea if I will report back my success or failure to complete this. I may bail and give in to t.v. and junk food, but I may not. I love my children and want to be the best, most involved, most able to give them space, most able to let them be the best they can be mom in the world...GULP!