I Might Be a Kill Joy

Today is my kids' last day of school; and while I'm mostly celebrating with them, there is a little part of me that is dreading what's to come.

My kids are not mellow people.

"They're kids!" you say. "Kids are an active lot."

Yes, I'm aware of that. But my kids happen to transcend what I believe to be "normal active". In fact, I've had many a persons who've met me and my husband, and then our children, question the authenticity of our progengy.

"Are you sure they are yours?"

Yes, I'm sure. I think.

I'm convinced there is some recessive "party gene" buried deep in my DNA that is now dominate in each of my children. Unfortunately, my dominate gene is the "kill joy" gene. You wouldn't be the first person to say I'm no fun or that I have little sense of humor, and I can guarantee you won't be the last. I'm used to it.

I've informed my husband that our kids will be maintaining their regular bedtime schedule this summer - brushing teeth & books at 7:30; in bed by 8:00.

You should have seen the incredulous look he gave me.

But here's the thing about us parents who still have responsibilities even when school is not in session (we can all lump ourselves into that category) - we don't get vacations, at least not 2+ months of I-don't-have-to-do-anything bliss the way our kids do.

I still have to wake up at 5AM if I hope to get any work done, whether it's for my business, my two creative projects, or the household chores. Trust me, they'll be up by 6AM most days anyway. And with three kids home 24/7, I'll have to rearrange my work schedule to fit around their summer activities.

Oh, I'm not complaining. At least not much. I'll enjoy taking them to the park and out for ice cream. We'll have a great time at the pool and just hanging out in the backyard. We'll go on hikes in the woods and scour our bodies for ticks afterwards. We'll pitch a tent and do a little camping, even.

But I'm hanging on to routine. Because I need it. Because I can already feel my heart palpitating wildly at the thought of breaking away from my schedule and doing anything that might be a little . . . impulsive.

Plus, I just need that hour between 9 and 10:00, when I know the kids are sound asleep, to watch those new-to-me HBO series like Six Feet Under, The Tudors, and True Blood.