The End Of Summer

My kids went back to school yesterday. One is a senior in high school and the other is in seventh grade. The alarm went off at an ungodly hour to much moaning and groaning. There were frantic searches for keys and notebooks and complaints about the boring food available for lunch. There was one pair of jeans that were declared absolutely unwearable even though they had been fine the day before. Breakfast was eaten on the way out the door and, amazingly, the bus came on time. One kid went in late (sick) and then my house descended into blessed silence for the first time all summer.

It was blissful.

I always try to plan my life so I have a little bit of time off on the first day of school. It used to be because I found getting small, nervous children out the door stressful and nerve-wracking. Now it is because I want a bit of time to revel in the peace and quiet. I love my kids and I like having them home for the summer but, just occasionally, I love it when they are gone.

I sat on the couch and puttered on my computer. I read a bit of my book. I ate chocolate. I then exercised. I know those last two contradict each other but I didn’t really care. I looked at the pile of books I have bought recently and considered writing a blog post about them but then I didn’t do it though I am sure I will next week.

I mourned the fact that summer is over. I am not a hot weather person but I do like the freedom summer brings. The first day of school is a clear indication that freedom is over. I have such a long list of things we didn’t get to this year. Summer is so short and free time is so rare. I spent some time making a list of things we must get to in September. I want to go to the shore and sit at a picnic table at a clam shack and eat clam chowder, french fries, shrimp, and ice cream. Then I want to walk across the street to the beach and look for sea glass. I want to sit around the fire pit outside and make s’mores. I want to go on a hike I have never been on before. I want to go to the huge book store in Massachusetts I recently heard about though I suppose that is a good autumn activity as well.

I puttered and lazed around for a whole glorious two hours. I did almost nothing practical. I say almost nothing because I caught myself folding laundry at one point. I think it was an instinctive reflex-walk past a basket full of clean laundry and of course, you are going to start folding it. I stopped as soon as I realized what I was doing and returned to my chocolate and book.

All too soon, I had to start my usual mad dash involving laundry, trips to the grocery store, a bit of gardening, and countless other routine activities. Then my kids were home and the house returned to its usual sounds of chaos, with chat about new teachers, old friends, and class schedules. It wasn’t peaceful or quiet anymore.

But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Most of the time.

And yes, I hid the chocolate before the kids got home. Wouldn’t you?