Yesterday was a total mom day. It contained two of the critical elements of mom-hood: play and care. First, all three kids went to the dentist. Tim and I walked among each of them as they got their teeth checked and cleaned. Even Mac wanted some extra loving as she waited for the dentist. And in a sign that I am bumping up on becoming the mom of a tween, we were referred to the orthodontist. I don't even want to think about it.
When we got home, Mac was really insistent on wanting to go to the park. So while dinner was cooking, we went to the playground by her school, and boy, did she talk. She told me about what they play on the playground, stories about each of her friends, and how her teacher talks about the students but covers her mouth with a soda bottle so students can't hear what she is saying (although Mac says they hear every word). We were outside (!), talking, and laughing. It was a great and much needed mother daughter time that I hope to repeat very soon.
After dinner, we sat down to watch the 6th Harry Potter movie. We've been working our way through them since listening to the third book on CD while driving to/from vacation. Miles had other, more disruptive ideas, so I took him for a walk outside. There is very little that I enjoy more than holding his little hand. It has got to be one of the sweetest feelings in the world! As we rounded the culdesac, our neighbor came out and gave us fresh vegetables from his garden. And we wound up staying and talking for quite a while. During this time, Miles got free, stepped in poop,and smeared it on my leg when I picked him up. Good times!
All joking aside, it really was good times. I love the days when I feel like I am helping the kids and doing real "mom" stuff. Sometimes I worry that we don't do enough outside, or play enough without video games or TV. Like most summers, this one is flying by, and I feel like I haven't done half of the stuff that screams "summer." But last night, I felt like we nailed it, and it was great.
