June 1, 2008
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This Summer – Heaven Help Me
Summer reading looms, like a welcome rain storm. Knowing full well that the summer will take its toll in energy and time, I still anticipate the adventures of the littlies and middlies. One of the greatest challenges is finding activities and ideas that will engage the middle school kids. Parents will bring the smallest of the children and the early elementary school children will finally be allowed to walk to the library on their own – always an exciting adventure. It’s the middle school children who are allowed to go to the beach by themselves and are left to their own devices much of the summer that I hope against hope will find the library. Although they occasionally make me want to rip out my hair, I would rather have them in my line of sight than worry that they are off getting into trouble, intended or not. We’ll see.
In the midst of that energy consuming work, I have decided it is time to paint and redecorate. It dawned on me several weeks ago that I no longer have school children living at home. The grandkids are settled in a dual parenting thing with their parents and are no longer under my care. While this is sometimes worrisome, it is as it should be. What it leaves is a house that no longer needs maps and math tables on the walls; that cherished children’s art needs to go in frames or files; that walls covered with handprints and tape require a fresh coat of paint. It’s all consuming, really, but I have begun now and there is nothing for it but to continue.
One bedroom is done. A lovely beeswax color with dark furniture. Braided rugs will complete the décor at some point. The hallway was yesterday’s project – taupe and too many doors! What was I thinking when I said, “Of course you can tape posters to your doors, darlings.” That was even worse than, “Yes, Daisy, by all means. Handprints on your walls will be sooo cute.” And they were until I had to paint over all of them. The living room is next. And I have yet to decide on a color. The people at Lowe’s are becoming my new best friends. I am tired of the browns and yellows I have used in the bedroom and hall. I thought for a moment that slate might be nice but the room is small and I am afraid it will look like a cave. All of that notwithstanding, the biggest advantage is getting rid of detritus. There is so much CRAP in this house. Bags and bags go to the trash and the Salvation Army every week. How is it we accumulate so much stuff?
On a completely different note…when you have a moment, check out Julius Lester’s blog. It’s brilliant. http://acommonplacejbl.blogspot.com/
And so it goes.
Comments (4)
Sounds like the clutter is going out just in time for the new planning. I need to do that when I plan, but not having the grandkids around mmmmmmight make you miss them some too!
I hope kids do find the library and love it. Things are to expensive everywhere else right now! And of course the benefits of reading and not smoking pot or getting into other trouble are excellent too.
I will be coming to visit soon!
And some small rooms can take dark colors. I love different colored room. It is refreshing.
Good grief~you suffer from the “must be doing too many things at once” disease that is rampant in our profession. Also I diagnose a bad case of the “I wonder what my “kids” are up to” syndrome. :>)
If those kids ever realized just how much we worry about them….sigh.
As for the decluttering? Go to it woman! I made a vow to rid my house of 1/3 of the stuff in it last summer and it’s great. This summer I see another 1/3 leaving as well. By then, the walls will be open and painting will need to be done….it never ends, does it?
I’m off to check out the blog………
Sounds fun, fun, fun! I thought I had more to say, but it’s not happening tonight. Have a great week.
As a small child, one of my good memories was getting to go to the library for story hour. I love having a book read and letting my mind create the scenes as I hear the words. Miss that as well…TV is no match for my creative mind in this area.