I fell for it again. Rowan came out of his last backslide so beautifully that I convinced myself it wasn't going to happen again. He is regressing with a vengeance right now.
Regressions are hard.
Welcome back, fighting, biting, kicking, punching and screaming. Just in time to help usher in summer.
Luckily, I recently discovered my Towanda, (avenger of all evil.) It started with a group of sixth graders. I just wasn't going to take their shit anymore. I got angry, I avenged, it felt good and now I feel unstoppable. Rowan picked a baaaaadddd time to get defiant. I will avenge any evil this child throws at me.
One thing that has become increasingly clear over the last few weeks is that I need to take away all shades of gray. Everything has become black and white. Rowan is clearly looking to see where the boundaries are right now, and I am drawing them as clearly as I can. Where I normally pick my battles, I have made everything a battle. Say no to me? I don't think so. Growl at me? Uh-UH! Do something right after I told you not to? Look out. Whine? No way. I have become the Royal Queen Bitch in this house. It IS possible to take EVERY toy away, did you know that? I am amazed at how I have disentangled my emotions from this situation and so clearly can see how it needs to be done. Exhausting? Yes...but not as exhausting as letting him run the show. Painful? A little bit, but I got my eyes on the prize this time. I will not raise a jerkface. And since I have started this little plan, I notice Rowan still wakes up every morning and loves me.
++++++++++++++++++++
Let's get away from the negative and focus on the good things ahead. I survived my first year at my new job, full time and with promise of full time next year. The last day of school felt surreal. I normally feel grief and sadness...this is the first time I know I am coming back to the same kids. It was a challenging year in many ways, but I am ending on a very high note, already excited for next year. And I am SO damn lucky. (Oh, and did I mention it's my first REAL summer off?)
So without further ado, this year's Summer Bucket List (with help from Aidan):
- Visit every playground in Duluth
- Sleep in the backyard
- Movies in the park
- Lemonade stand
- Fishing at Hartley
- Camping, camping and more camping
- Pirate exhibit at the Science Museum in St. Paul
- Teach Aidan to snorkel
- French River and lunch and the Scenic
- State Fair
- Pick strawberries
- Pick blueberries
- Make jam
- Make pickles
- Ride bikes to get ice cream
- Teach Rowan to ride the bike tagalong
- Make homemade ice cream the old fashioned way
- Stay and swim at the Edge
- Timber Twister
- Have Lynnie over for dinner
- Lots of pontoon rides
And my personal additions:
- Keep the garden weed free
- Host two kickass birthday parties
- Deep clean and organize every room in the house, including the basement
- Make enough aprons, bags and skirts to sell somewhere.
- Catch up with old friends.
- Stop sleeping in: seize each day.
My hope is that by posting these here, I will stay on top of the list, and hopefully post our adventures here!
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