Just What I Needed

When John and I were dating he made me a mix tape. Yes, I just gave away our ages. These time-stamped, musical gems don't exist anymore (sigh). Our cars don't even have a cassette players in them. I do, however have a good memory of what was included in that song selection. There was a song by The Cars called "Just What I Needed." The name of that song couldn't be more appropriate today....

I finished my 9 week, long-term substitute teaching job yesterday. It was challenging; it was exhausting; it touched my heart in ways I never considered it would. I covered for a special education teacher. Special education teaches students in a way that addresses their individual differences and needs. It's not a one-size fits all classroom. That's only part of what makes it a challenge. That's also only part of what made it soften my heart. I may gather more of my thoughts on this for another post. I'm not sure yet. Maybe it's still too fresh in my mind. 

For today what I know is I have missed my kids. I have not been as available to them as I like to be. For me, I'm not sure there is a greater challenge than being a mom AND working full-time. 

I've slacked off on cleaning. We didn't put up any Halloween decorations except a skeleton and orange light bulbs in the porch lights (yes, it's November and yes, they are still there). There were mornings of being late and many evenings when I was out of patience and energy. It. Was. Hard. 

But, then there was today. Today there was no school. Today the weather was beautiful. Today the leaves are at peak; and I find this crazy interesting because I was afraid I'd miss leaf peak because I'd be stuck inside at school. Guess what? I didn't miss it! 

Today we went to the zoo. 

Today the kids decided we should ride the Metro into DC. Sydney brought her iPod and took 1,000 pictures. We ate ice cream for lunch and rode the carousel. I bought them stuffed animals as suveniors. Elliot hugged his prairie dog and Syd squeezed her stuffed panda. On the trek home, the kids held my hands when we switched from the red line train to the blue line train...I didn't even ask them to. We weaved through the crowed platform and I could feel Syd's sweaty hand. She told me she was scared of the noise and that she was worried about thieves. She's not really a city kid, unlike her mother. I told her "country mouse" needs to get to the city more often and reassured her she was safe. 

I'm so grateful that God gives me challenges to grow me. I'm deeply grateful that my own kids missed me and needed today just as much as I did.  The days are long but the years are oh, so short.  

Today I was just a mom. Just a mom. It was just what I needed. 

Thank you for reading.

Long Live Summer

Hilton Head Island, August 2014

Today is my last Friday of summer vacation.  I accepted a long-term assignment at the kids' school for the first few weeks of summer.  It's an assignment in special education.  I suspect I'll be writing about my experience. How is it when we leave school on that coveted "last day" it seems the whole summer is before us, but all of a sudden I'm scrambling to get supplies together?  I'm quizzing the kids on their math facts while we are riding in the car doing back-to-school errands because I'm worried they've forgotten everything they worked so hard to learn.  Our library bag has been heavy this summer and Sydney has literally walked into many walls because her nose has been stuck in a book, but the math facts...oh the math facts.  Forgive me in advance, teachers.  If grades were awarded by how much time we spent swimming and laughing, my kids would get stellar grades. :)

Some of this summer's highlights have included swim team, more lost teeth, an extended visit from my niece, miles of runs and bike rides, a trip to Hilton Head Island, and sleeping in late.  It's been a rarity to see Miss Sydney before 9 a.m.  Even Elliot has been sawing logs until 8 o'clock!

I could be hard on myself for not doing "enough" of the math facts, crafting, or chores; but this morning I am instead reflecting on what's been good and fun and memorable.  If my kids can look back at this summer and say it was great then my work here is done.  I hope on that first writing assignment of "what did you do this summer?" that it's hard for them to choose just one thing.  I know for me it is.

So, here's to one of our last weekends of warm weather and sitting poolside.  Here's to humidity and Sydney Brown Berry (this kid gets her skin from my dad and she's soooo tan!).  Here's to delicious summer foods and underwater pool pictures.  Here's to family cartwheel contests and visits to Sweet Frog.  Long.  Live.  Summer.

Thanks for reading and best of luck transitioning back into the school year.  You can follow our adventures here on the blog or on Instagram.  I'm @mrsv_runsoncoffee.

Underwater photos are so much fun!

Biking Hilton Head

Into the ocean she goes

Elliot goofing around

Magnificent is being 7

Spring Where Are You?

March 17, 2014: Virginia received yet another snow storm and then had yet another snow day.  The only thing living in our house that was overly excited by this was Thurman, our Golden Retriever.  Even our snow shovel is tired.  I saw a funny picture on Facebook today that had the Easter Bunny yelling for Santa to come get the snow.  It made me think...is this Jack Frost's joke to us because the retail industry is always rushing us on to the next holiday?  Of course I don't actually believe this, but it is comedic relief to the fact that a half a foot of snow fell in and around DC just one day after it was 70 degrees on the National Mall.  My kids have had 16 snow days this school year.  This has caused such commotion in the number of instructional hours that the school board voted last week to add an additional 25 minutes to each school day until the end of the school year.  The first day of the added time was to begin yesterday.  Yesterday was a snow day.  Is this funny to anyone else, or is it just me?  I have to find a way to laugh about this.  If I don't, I feel I will begin to develop a twitch and find myself living my own version of The Shining.  I half expect creepy twins to be waiting for me at the top of our stairs or decide it's a good idea to let Sydney and Elliot ride scooters in the house (I'd say Big Wheels, but we don't own them).

I have an extra amount of respect for those I know who live in climates where it is a long, cold winter.  To my friend in Minnesota, you are a hearty soul.  May you find your winter's thaw in yummy things like potato soup and warm blankets.  Growing up in the winters of Central Ohio I can remember the old window panes in my room forming small ice crystals on the inside on particularly cold nights.  I would scratch at the bits of frost and watch it melt down the cold panes.  I was fascinated by this.  I loved winter.  Sledding, hot chocolate, and the excitement of snow.  Now, as an adult, I have a countdown to the pool opening.  As of today, it's 67 days.  In 67 days I will yell "grab a towel and some flip flops" instead of working up a sweat stuffing Elliot into gloves and snow boots.  If for some reason it still hasn't warmed up, I will sit poolside with our infamous heat dish.  

So here's to an end to winter, to long summer days and warm evenings.  Bring on the fireflies, the cherry blossoms and the long OUTDOOR runs I have planned.  I can't wait to break up with the treadmill. 

Thanks for reading.

Thurman and his heat dish

St. Patrick's Day Snow Storm