Flashback Monday: I’m Quitting Summer

by Abby on August 13, 2012

Hey, what do you know? Last year, at almost the EXACT SAME TIME, I decided I’d had enough of summer. Well, guess what? I’m there again! I had no time to write a new post this weekend since I was busy ferrying the boys to the indoor bouncy place (it rained that day), the park, the other park, and a baseball game. So here’s last year’s letter of resignation updated with this year’s pictures.

I’m Quitting Summer

Sandy handsDear Kids,

I quit. Effective immediately, I hereby resign as your summer activities coordinator/cruise director/source of nonstop entertainment.

We’ve been to the beach, the brook, and the duck pond. We’ve spent as much time at the pool as the lifeguards. We’ve played in the sprinkler, the water table, and on the Slip ‘n’ Slide. We’ve been to the little playground, the big playground, the playground with the dinosaur, the playground with the pirate ship, and the playground with the palm trees. We’ve been to the play areas at the mall, the library, and Chick-fil-A – sometimes more than once a week.

At the fire museumWe’ve been to concerts and cook-outs, berry picking and bike riding, to amusement parks and boardwalks, to petting zoos and the regular zoo. We’ve been to playdates and picnics and parties and parades. You’ve been to Cape Cod, music camp, swim camp, and Bible camp. We’ve collected shells, stones, and bugs. You’ve eaten hot dogs, popsicles, watermelon, and S’mores. We’ve gone out for pizza, ice cream, frozen yogurt, and snow balls. You’ve watched movies and played video games. Done puzzles and craft projects. Sidewalk chalk and bubbles. Legos and trains. Board games and books.

WaterparkAnd now I’m done. DONE, I tell you. Tomorrow morning when you get up and barrage me with questions before I’ve even had my coffee – What are we doing today, Mommy? Where are we going? Who can we play with? Can we go here? There? And then there? And then where will we go after THAT, Mommy? – my answer will be: WE ARE GOING NOWHERE AND DOING NOTHING AND YOU WILL LIKE IT.

And this is from ME, a former camp counselor! A person who likes baking cookies and playing tag and making paper-doll robots and who once even made homemade Play-Doh! (Once was enough. The store-bought kind comes in prettier colors, anyway.)

But I am BURNT-OUT, do you hear me? I have used up every bit of creativity and imagination and energy and most of my money entertaining you since the way-too-early last day of school in June until now. And we still have almost a whole month of summer left!!

As a stay-at-home mom of 3 I know said, “Summer vacation should only be 6 weeks long.” Sounds like plenty to me.

Signed,
Your Loving But Exhausted Mom

P.S. When’s MY summer vacation?!

QUOTE O’ THE DAY: “A vacation frequently means that the family goes away for a rest, accompanied by a mother who sees that the others get it.” – Marcelene Cox

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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }

Pamela August 13, 2012 at 9:39 am

Wonderful. I’m sharing this with my daughter-in-law, a mom of three boys (6 months, 2 and 3 years old). She will appreciate your letter – in fact, she may frame it in gold! :+)

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Abby August 13, 2012 at 10:32 am

3 boys?! Good lord, she better start saving up for years of soccer camp & swimming lessons now! My boys have energy like you wouldn’t believe.

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neena August 13, 2012 at 9:45 am

I could skip summer altogether! I would rather is always be Fall!

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Abby August 13, 2012 at 10:30 am

I hear ya!

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Verna Coleman August 13, 2012 at 10:25 am

I can relate at least partially but on a different angle. I always wanted a summer time off from work. Well this my first year of retirement I have the summer off just to have over even weeks of utter chaos with my husbands health problems. Moms never seem to get time off. They are always on the go, there is always something we have to do for others. Yes, where is our vacations and time for us? You go Girl and enjoy at least one day doing nothing! Hahahah. I know unless you have a caregiver wo is carding for your little ones that just isn’t going to happen!
Seriously, I do hope you are able to take some. Me time. Every mother needs time alone so we can keep our sanity!

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Abby August 13, 2012 at 10:30 am

You’re so right, Verna. Free time for moms is like a vacuum — something always comes up to fill the void. No rest for the weary!

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Verna Coleman August 13, 2012 at 10:28 am

I hate auto spell corrections. When I know I typed seven weeks and unless you have a care giver. Sigh

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Bruce Smith August 13, 2012 at 10:41 am

Oh Abby!
Once again you hit the bulleye!
I used to rant at the onset of every summer. The son wanted to do this, the daughters to do that, the wife had her agenda and my live-in father in-law had his summer projects as well. By mid-June I was exhausted and in full revolt! You of course, being feminine and therefore a superior being, are able to last until August!

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jetts31 August 14, 2012 at 7:27 pm

Amen. Summer vacation should be a long weekend if you ask me.

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