The 98 things before Summer

There is nothing more disheartening than making the kids’ lunches and finding out shortly thereafter that it’s Pizza Day. And that I thought to write an entire post on it, well it might be an indication that I am ready for this school year to end.

READY.

In the last few weeks I’ve had to remember no fewer than 98 extra things each morning:

• $4.00 for chrysalises and tadpoles.
• Interesting but EDUCATIONAL show-and-share items (Not the Droid Gun Ship you got from Gramma and Grampa)
• Reading Log.
• Shoe box to transform into a rock family’s habitat.
• 40 mild chicken wings for the class potluck. (You know you’re raising boys when)
• Doing the reading for the bloody Reading Log.
• Birthday lollipops for the entire class.
• Birthday pin for the birthday boy’s shirt so the class knows it's his birthday on the weekend.
• Signed and dated math quiz.
• Where the hell is that reading log?
• Shin high white socks for tie dying.
• $13.00 for Naveen’s end of the year trip. (Really? $13?  Not say, a nice round number like $10 or $20?)
• $15.00 for Deaglan’s end of the year trip.
• Library books (Every single time the late notice comes, I scratch my head thinking I have never seen this book in this house)

And although I want to weep around this time, each year because it is excruciatingly clear to me that I did not end up with a career that gives me the entire summer off but my husband did, I’ll be glad when I can stop having to remember 98 extra things every morning.

I won’t have to keep up this charade with Naveen (let’s see, what can I put into his lunch today that he won’t eat  because, Mommmmmy, I told you, I HATE pizza with sauce on it!)

I won’t have to ask Deaglan WHY? WHY DID YOU WEAR YOUR INSIDE SHOES HOME? WHY????

I won’t have to apologize for above question because I asked it in YELLING.

Instead I can sneak away extra early to work out.

Or sleep in because NO LUNCHES.

I can put all wardrobe negotiations on hold. Those are pajama pants. You have to wear regular pants.

And beat myself up a little less on the drive to work for the YELLING.

I can expect to come home to a house that doesn’t look like it’s been robbed and ransacked because well, LOOKING FOR THE BLOODY READING LOG.

Instead I can come home to three sun-kissed, shaggy haired guys wearing swim trunks and mismatched shirts who are very glad to see me.