Someday
You know the scene in “When Harry Met Sally” where Sally is sobbing hysterically on Harry’s shoulder about her recent ex marrying on the rebound? And she throws in a non-sequitur that she’s going to be 40.
Harry: When?
Sally: Someday.
I had that moment of panic today. David and I were at the tennis club (sounds swanky, so isn’t) playing tennis as the kids were running round chasing tennis balls and enjoying the sun. I was overcome by a feeling akin to, “oh isn’t summer and sun so absolutely wonderful”. It lasted about one minute before I went into full on panic mode.
You see, someday, my kids are going to be the kind of kids who go to school and then are out on summer vacation. It doesn’t matter that they’re only 4 and 2. It’s gonna happen someday.
Crap.
I never really thought about that before. Growing up, my mom and all my friends’ moms stayed at home year round (at least when we were little), so summer meant little interruption to us. Up until three years ago, I used to be a teacher, and I too had my summers off. I guess I always took for granted that I’d be at home with my family during the two warm months the weather gods grant us each year.
When I gave up teaching for the glamorous world of private enterprise, I didn’t really think about the whole summer issue. Even though I work with David running our own company, I don’t think the company (or the 25 other employees) would take kindly to me abandoning my duties for 8 weeks while I attempt to remain competent, calm and in control frolic gaily in the daisy fields with the kiddies.
So I set out on a mission to find out what other working parents do while their progeny are off for eight weeks looking to frolic gaily without the structure and security that eight hours chained to a desk the almighty educational system provides.
I quizzed my neighbour, A. She started with, “Hmm, let me think,” and then proceeded to rattle off the 27 clubs, activities and week-long camps her 6 and 4 year old were enrolled in. Somewhere around, “and you need to make sure you sign up in February for Blankety Blank because it fills up really fast, and even though Fill In the Name is pretty pricey, the kids love it and can totally do Yackety Yack by the end of it. The only thing we struggled with was finding something for Oldest Child during the third week of August, so we decided to let her stay with my parents for an extra week,” I broke down and cried, sobbing on her shoulder.
I’m not up to this. Not even someday.
Do you think they’ll have instituted year-round schooling in two years time?
::This is an original Canada Moms Blog post. When not navel gazing here, Mandy can be found navel-gazing here::
