Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Our nearly-perfect scoop of summer


I can hardly believe it’s August already. Back-to-school season is in full swing. I feel like summer just started, but already most of it is in the rear-view mirror. And I really can’t say that I’m sorry. I’ll be honest; summer with small kids is every bit as exhausting as it is fun. If I’m being really honest, it’s more of the former, less of the latter. There have been many long, cranky days.

We’ve had meltdowns and melted ice-cream cones. We’ve had (diaper) blowouts, and (temper) blowups. We’ve had carseat kicking fights and “Don’t MAKE me pull over” threats. We’ve had far too many rounds of “Mommy, where are we GOING today?”

But not this day.

Today was a day plucked out of a children’s wear catalog. (Minus the impossibly perfect, impractical children’s wear, of course.) There was frolicking at a sun-dappled park under hazy blue skies. There was a picnic. There was a drama-free trip to the library. There was a playdate.

The girls bestowed dimpled grins on smitten strangers like tiny beauty queens. They were kind to each other. They ate their peas. OK, Bianca ate one. It counts.

They were so adorable, they took my breath away. Did I really grow these two gorgeous, funny little people in my own body? They told jokes, followed by giggles as sweet and bubbly as champagne. Their little voices were as smooth as two scoops of butter-pecan.

We had one—one—picturesque, almost-perfect summer day. I’m still savoring it.

I need to bottle up today and seal it tight. I need to preserve it and tuck it away someplace safe. Because I’m absolutely, positively convinced that it not be repeated anytime soon.

Who knows why this day drifted my way. Maybe we’re finally turning the corner on the “Fearsome Fours.” Maybe I’ve logged enough hard days that the Almighty figured I was due for a good one.

I do think that we get days like this, once in the bluest of moons, to help us get through all of the other crappy ones.

I’m sending some of today’s magic your way. I hope you get your perfect summer day, too. Every mom deserves a few.

4 comments:

Kimberly said...

This made me smile and for some reason sorta brought a tear to my eye. . .chalk it up to the pregnancy I guess. I love when days go like that!!!!

Anna said...

It is so nice when you have a day like that. I hope only to remember the good ones when I am older.

Abby said...

You KNOW I know what you mean! And I'm so glad it's not just me. A funny thing: the day I decided "this is too much, you kids are killing me, I can't come up w/ one more fun summer activity," we stayed at home in our PJs & the boys were great. They had a blast playing w/ each other, doing nothing much, just hanging out. It was awesome. Of course it only lasted a day, but I'll take what I can get!

Malia said...

I'm glad there have been some good days for everyone. Sometimes when we stop "trying" so hard, a good day just appears. Or maybe kids' moods are tied to the moon cycles or something crazy like that. :)