The best laid plans for a meaningful, enriching summer are not going according to plan. My lovely picture of warm, happy times with my family and husband, a slower pace to my days and finally moving ahead on my book about summer aren't really working out.
It's been a deep breath sort of summer so far. My days have been filled with caring for my mom recovering from surgery. Rushing to and fro to hospitals and rehab, doctor appointments and picking up medicine. Then, dropping my son off to camp early so I can shoehorn some free time in my day. Visiting and praying with my friend who has melanoma cancer in the liver. Oh, and did I tell you I was planning a family reunion too? Very big deep breath.
Last night as I was staring at the TV not really watching, my son came to me way past his bedtime to say, "mom, isn't it my bedtime?"
Now what came next cannot be helped -- the exhaustion must have taken over. I explained that I wasn't his mom. That his real mom had gone to Paris shopping for hats and perfume. The person sitting here watching "America's Got Talent" was really his "sub-mom" filling in to appear as if she was really his mom. So he needed to put himself to bed because the sub-mom didn't know the true ritual anyway.
Mr. Smarty Pants didn't buy the mom went to Paris bit. I put him to bed and ended up falling asleep right next to him. I guess his persistent reminder of bedtime was truly what I needed anyways -- not more TV.
So my summer doesn't look like a magazine cover. Oh well. At least I get to be a blessing to my mom, to truly be present with my friend, to take care of my family, to snuggle with a six year old while giving myself the rest I need.
This season might be my deep breath summer where I really learn to take it only a day at a time. That'as all we have anyways.
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