For a brief moment the other day, only my 13-year-old daughter, baby, and myself were home. The house was disturbingly quiet. Suddenly I realized that this is exactly how the house would sound in a few days—empty.
Typically, with seven children, that’s a sound I enjoy. So I was surprised when a felt a loss, knowing that their sweet personalities (okay, not including Deep Clean days) would be gone during the day, and with it their childlike, buoyant energy. Although there are times said energy completely overwhelms and annoys me, I had to say, I will truly miss it.
So, to make the last moments count we’re doing what most families are doing—squeezing inordinate amounts of last minute Super Summer Fun into a mere 48 hours. And planned our back to school memory makers.
Except for one change. The children’s list was just a tad longer this year.
As we started talking about the First Day, the kids got excited about our usual mini Martinellis bottles in their red mailboxes and a sweet note from mama.
So far so good.
But then, someone said, Let’s have your famous curry for dinner. Okay. Then another said, And donuts! And another chimed in, And a yummy breakfast, like waffles and stuff! Then my youngest daughter started talking about me DECORATING her mini mailbox and then wanting to come to the store with me to pick out just the right treats.
That’s when the Mama Hand emerged in an Aretha Franklin R-E-S-P-E-C-T stop sign. I felt strongly to put the kibosh on the Uber Celebration Train before it even left the station. Not just for back-to-school, but as a precedence for all future holidays that loom before me in the next few months. Thankfully, the children got the message and we compromised on dinner, donuts, and mailboxes (without the decorations).
What are some of your favorite back-to-school traditions or memory makers? Whatever they are, I invite you to ENJOY the first day with only a FEW memory maker activities/tasties/connections that keep it enjoyable (for mom) and make it memorable (for everyone).
Also, enjoy some fun things for you. View my KSL segment on “Keeper Moments,” join us for Education Week in Utah, and check out our gift drawing for a free e-book of The Life is Too Short Collection (see below).
Because mom needs a great back-to-school tradition too (translate: put feet up, read a humorous book, and eat a decadent treat).
Enjoy!
Connie
P.S. Email one (or more) favorite back-to-school tradition/memory maker to me@conniesokol.com to enter to win a free e-book of The Life is Too Short Collection (for PC or Kindle).
P.P.S. Click here to enjoy the KSL segment on “When Was Your Last Keeper Moment?”
Even more P.P.S. I’m speaking at the Hinckley Alumni Building on BYU Campus at 11:10 to 12 noon. Here are the topics, hope to see you there!
Weds: Make a Fabulous Life Change! Get Direction, Eliminate Emotional Clutter, and Enjoy the Process
Thurs: Feel Fit and Fabulous, Inside and Out
Fri: The Juggling Act: Balancing Being a Woman, Wife, and Mother
