Endings & Beginnings

Summer is over and today was the first day back to school for the boys. One period in time ending and another beginning.

The end of summer is always a little bittersweet, but for me, this time it seemed more so. After 10 years as a SAHM, this was the first time I spent the summer working rather than spending it all with my boys. I have to admit (regardless of how it sounds and regardless of the fact that I work part time) I felt like I missed out on so much I'd normally do with them. The babysitter took them to the pool. The babysitter took them bowling and to tennis lessons. The babysitter played board games with them (OK, so I probably wouldn't have done that, but you get my point.) I merely grumbled at them each workday morning, mad at myself for choosing a job that is so wrong for me, dreading the day ahead of me, dreading leaving them. Before I knew it, I'd dreaded and grumbled my way through the summer only to find it over before, it seems, it truly began.

 But where there is an ending, one can usually find a beginning. The boys had a great first day today, and I believe, they're truly looking forward to their (2nd and 5th grade) year. I'm looking forward to making better choices and creating some endings and beginnings for myself this fall. Summer may have gone a bit too soon, but I have to remember that fall is the season of learning new things and looking to the future. So no more grumbling and dreading that which is ending. Only embracing all that is beginning!

Where Does the Time Go?

Tomorrow, my Boogah turns 11 years old. 11 years old! I can't quite believe it. It's so cliche, but it truly does seem like yesterday when this picture was taken. It was his first birthday, and the poor little guy had a fever (hence his slightly fussy expression) that day. He was a trooper though. He ate his birthday cupcake despite not feeling well. Goodness was he a sweet baby! He's still my sweet little baby - even when he gives me what I like to call 'Tweenitude.' (Would you be surprised to find out that he hates it when I say that? ;-) I swear it seems like I blinked and he became a Tween! When I blink again, he'll be a teenager and then with another blink, he'll be off to college and on his own. It makes me want to give up blinking. I want to just grab hold of him with eyes closed to stop time from spinning away. But I can't. It doesn't work that way. I can only continue to treasure this brief moment in time called childhood - while it lasts. Happy Birthday to my sweet Baby/Tween!