Monday, June 25, 2007

Summer, Summer, Summer...


"I have a runny nose, Daddy, and besides that, someone was making fun of me at school on Friday. I don't want to go to summer school today." Ahhh...so said my dearest at 7:30 this morning when D tried to wake up J up. So he could go to school, so he could get 10 credits and thus take less classes in his first year of high school.
Last summer we thought to relieve the kids of school. This year is a different story. Both boys are in school - A is being home-schooled by D, and J is at the high school. M is also being home-schooled. With J, we thought it best to acclimate him to the routine of school, to get him used to managing his tics in a school environment. D and I worried. He did so well at home, we didn't want his good work to plummet. But the reality is, his tics ARE being well-managed, and he WILL lose out on the music programs if he stays home.
"Come on, Daddy, I really just want to stay home, just for today."
D came into my room and whispered, "He's got a really runny nose."
"Give him a cold medicine."
D tiptoed out of the room. I drifted back to sleep. At 9 or so I got up and looked in the bedroom and there was J, asleep. He slept until 11.
When he woke up, he asked, "Hey, I made plans to go skating with my buddy. Can you drive me to the elementary school? Just to the hill."
Umm...no.
"Why NOT??!!"
"If you're too sick for summer school, you're too sick to skateboard for friends."
"It's just summer school, it doesn't matter!!"
Heavy sigh.
Yesterday was nice though - after screaming and fussing and complaining and threats to stay home, all five of us managed to get into the SUV and head out to the Orange County Marketplace (which used to be the Orange County Swapmeet) to walk around and buy a beach hat. Which we did. Bought beach hats. Afterwards, we drove to Newport Beach for an early dinner and I had a Mojito. Never did I need one so badly in my life. We all had fun, though. Lunch-dinner was the best. Classic rock playing. The ocean breeze coming in through open windows, chips and salsa, hamburgers, fun conversation. Beach hats.
I took pictures from the pier. I'd not seen that many people at the beach in years. Packed. Sardines.
Today we'll go swimming at the community pool. I'm going to learn how to make a Mojito.

2 comments:

Patrick O'Neil said...

At least sardines get slathered in olive oil when they get packed in like that.

Coppertone anyone?

Carolyn said...

Now THAT sounds like a fun day! I hope you post that Mojito recipe :)