So before you read on let me set the stage of what it's like in my house right now. Jace is at his computer playing his touch and talking to himself. Keely is trying so very hard to play with the dogs, "oh Jackers here's your toy". Jackers is the nickname for our little dog Jack. Actually, Keely has renamed him 'Jackers like crackers' really every time she talks to him that's what she calls him. Meanwhile, the dogs (the 3 of them) are barking and running around not paying attention to Keely. Oh wait, Jace is now in the Dora house. Barking dogs, pretend playing kids, TV on with the latest news in Egypt and the Snowpocolypse.....yep pretty quiet around here.
I guess for the first post I'll update on the last couple of weeks around here. I choose to call them initiation weeks or hell weeks. These are the weeks that make you really see what kind of parent you are. Along the way possibly changing that style from day to day or even hour by hour. For me in this house it's more like minute to minute. Wonder if I could give everyone in this house a good dose of Zoloft? Hmmm sorry was just thinking out loud.
Anyway, a couple of weeks ago we got slammed with snow. I do love my snow days with the kids but had no idea my 1 snow day would turn into 8 and possibly 9. This has been a particularly testing time for me as a parent. Pulling out all the stops. We started our snow days in our jammies watching the snow fall outside, well the blizzard. It really was a blizzard. When all was said and done we had a little over 14" of snow that day. We enjoyed watching it out the window, stayed in our jammies watching movies and playing games. Then began with the school closings. It's like we're stuck in the movie Groundhog Day. (Which by the way I've never seen. Never was interested in watching a movie that just repeated the same day over and over. But according to FB I'm living it now!) The closings continued and so did my search for new projects to do with the kids. We've played play doh, made forts, done science experiments, watched a lot of movies, made snacks, did art of all kinds and played in the snow inside and out. We even had some friends over for a beach party. The kids ran around in their swimsuits, we ate lunch on our beach towels and decorated summer themed cookies. And that was just day 1! Nah, we've done all those things almost everyday. Sounds pretty quality right? The snuggling has been nice. The time when the kids played well together, that too is nice. But, like any other family there was a lot of fighting, whining and arguing in between all those moments of goodness. I would love to say that I'm a super star of mom. That I'm always doing super fun stuff with my kids and all is perfect. The truth is I do the projects and fun stuff to cut down on the crazy fighting. Other wise I would've been committed into the nearest home by now.
I should mention by now that within the last 2 weeks we have had about 24" of snow. Our road crews have been working day and night to keep things clear but we just can't seem to get ahead. Neighborhood streets are a mess and dangerous, therefore, no school.
Earlier I mentioned this as a testing period. I think every parent loves the occasional day home with their kids. But after so many days it just gets harder and harder to entertain them. Everyone is out of routine and let's face it, we are creatures of habit and change for many of us is hard. I know that being flexible for a day or two isn't so bad but at some point you need to get back in routine. You have things to accomplish, a house to clean, emails to read and alone time to have. None of that happens when the kids are home. At least not at my house. It's been a roller coaster around here. My parent attitude was very positive at first and then it would dip down. I admit having the moments of wishing school was back in. So began the roller coaster ride, happy their here, wish school was in, happy their here, wish school was in. But then during a moment of insanity it hit me. Ok well I just refocused. I can't change the situation but I can change my attitude about it. Our kids grow so darn fast and each moment with them should be cherished.
So as I reflect on that thought, I've tried very hard to just enjoy the time with them. Trying to even enjoy the screaming and the fighting. I believe it's what bonds them as siblings and they become closer for it. (Well at least that's how I'm choosing to look at it for now) Oh how I do love the moments, like this very moment, when they choose to play together nicely. I love the giggling, the partnership and creativeness that evolves when they are together, happily. My favorite moments, those I try so very hard to keep in my head, are when they come up and just want to cuddle.
As you're reading this you may be thinking, "Oh how wonderfully positive she is." Yes, I try to be but let's face people, I'm also all about keeping it real. I've been seriously tested these past two weeks as a parent. My creativeness, my flexibility and oh my geez MY PATIENCE! It has not been all peaches and cream. It's been so intensely crazy and insane in this house. But you know what? It's the Bormann 4! That's our life. I love it and I certainly wouldn't want it to change. So for now I try to focus on just being with my kids, through the moodiness, through the craziness and the happiness. I love 'em. So do it TPS close school for just one day so I can enjoy another day with them.
Great! I'm glad youre writing. And it's neat to catch up on what's going on down there. Miss you!
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