* potty –  meaning bonkers, mad, insane, despairing

Tomorrow my younger son finishes school for the long summer holidays, my older son has already been off for three weeks.  When they were younger I actually enjoyed the six weeks they were home. We spent a lot of time out of the house, did crafts with variable success, played games, watched movies, the list could go on… I enjoyed it because we were busy, every day felt like it was worthwhile.  Obviously I’m no saint and by about week five I would be so extremely fed up of the daily niggles that accompany (small) children, and then that first week in September just couldn’t come quickly enough – oh the relief of walking them up to school on the first day of the new school year giving a full six hours of me-time!

But now they’re teenagers.  I don’t know what life with a typical teenage boy (or two) is like, whether they just get left to their own devices while their parents are at work or on spa days or playing golf or whatever.  I only know what life with my teenagers is like, and although they are lovely boys (mostly) they do have additional needs, which means I have additional responsibilities, so I can’t leave them alone all day (while I try running a marathon or have a marathon ice cream eating session) however much I’d like to.  And being teenagers they lack enthusiasm for doing anything that doesn’t involve a screen or eating, and as I’m not planning on spending six weeks at the cinema or the ‘all-you-can-eat-pizza-hut-lunch-buffet’ it is with trepidation that I approach tomorrow and the next six weeks.

I will simply channel my limited resources towards self-care and relaxation at every available opportunity.  And if that means eating a lot of pizza and ice cream then so be it.

Peace & Love, K x