Bringing everyone home

As I had prepared for sending the kids away to camp, I am now preparing to bring them home.  I have been busy cleaning their rooms, closets and bathroom.  I have found too many empty candy wrappers, used toothbrushes, and countless unidentifiable objects that I am sure will be the only things they will look for when they come home.  I am fully prepared for the anger and upset that I am dragging them from their happy place before all their friends leave, and the anger and upset that house rules don’t have a summer vacation.  I am fully prepared to hold them tight for as long as they let me, and smile as they slam the doors to their rooms.  Ah, life will be back to normal.

That means back to normal for me, as well.  As I look back on the last 3 ½ weeks, I realize I have done less reading with them gone than when they are here. I spent more time with my husband, and we actually interacted with each other.  We went to concerts and museums. We took long walks (with the dog), went flea market shopping (with the dog), and even tried aerial yoga (without the dog).  And while I did get some good time in at the community pool reading, it was at a much more relaxed pace.

So, why do I read less when they are not home? Not for lack of interest. But it seems that I have an additional priority when they are home – modelling for them the fact that there is more to life than Netflicks,  Fortnite, trolling, and all that other online stuff that I have no idea about.  The key to this, and most things, is balance.  I need to connect to my children and husband (and dog) and not hide behind books.  I need to model alternative choices to electronics.  I need to read for my pleasure, but know its ok to watch a bit of television at times (too bad I don’t know the netflick’s password).  And hopefully, my kids will start sharing with me what they are reading or doing, too.