I don’t know when I’ve ever been so ready for Spring Break. Second grade is about to kill me. And this is where many of you will leave comments like “Wait until third grade!” or “You think this is bad? Junior high is brutal!” or “Cherish this moment because pretty soon she will be going off to college and getting married and you’ll be a grandmother!”
Then I’ll get all sentimental, especially because I held my friend Natalie’s newborn baby yesterday and it was a reminder that little babies are so soft and cuddly and don’t ever look at you and say, “NO WAY AM I WEARING THAT.” And then I’ll sing a few bars of Time in A Bottle by Jim Croce because if there’s a tender moment that can’t be summed up with the musical stylings of Jim Croce then I don’t know it.
(On a parenting side note, a few weeks ago my friend and I were in the school gym waiting for our girls to be finished with basketball practice. She had her two-year-old with her and he was having a particularly bad night. You know? The kind of night that toddlers have because their life is so hard with all the being waited on hand and foot and having their diaper changed. A nice dad from the team was trying to help her out and she said, “Thank you. I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with this.” And he responded, “Oh this? This is nothing. I have a daughter in junior high.” I looked at her two-year-old throwing a big screaming fit and have never felt more frightened for my future. On the upside, it has helped my prayer life considerably.)
If I didn’t know before, I knew for sure it was time for a little break from our routine on Tuesday morning when P told me he could drop Caroline off at school if I’d just get her ready. I packed her lunch, grabbed her school bag, put it around her shoulders, HANDED HER THE KEYS TO MY CAR, and kissed her goodbye. She walked back in the door about five seconds later, handed me back my keys and asked, “HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?”
Yes. I have. Somewhere between the Rocket Math and the word problems and trying to remember how many pints are in a quart, I have lost my mind.
Anyway, Gulley and I are leaving town with the kids for a little trip over the break and I can’t wait to get on the road. Spring Break brings out the wanderlust in me, maybe because P and I spent about ten years worth of Spring Breaks taking a busload full of high school kids skiing in Colorado when he worked for Youth for Christ. Obviously this was back when we were younger, stronger people who didn’t mind being woken up in the middle of the night to hear tales of drama and woe such as, “Umm, I told her I liked him but then she said she liked him first and I was like WHATEVER and she knew we were supposed to ski together yesterday and then they went off together and (insert big sobs and nose-blowing here) and she wore her pink ski jacket when SHE KNEW that I was going to wear my pink ski jacket tomorrow.”
I don’t know why we quit chaperoning those trips.
Oh, I kid. I loved chaperoning those trips. The actual skiing and the seventeen hour bus ride? Not so much. But the kids? LOVED THEM. And I can’t really think too long about how the majority of those kids are all grown-up and married and have kids of their own now. Cue the Jim Croce.
So what about y’all? Going anywhere fun or doing anything interesting for Spring Break?
(Disclaimer: If you are part of a roving band of thieves who is now planning on breaking into our home because I’ve just announced we’ll be out of town, I must warn you that P will still be at home because he is a busy worker bee. He is armed. And semi-dangerous.)
Okay. I know you didn’t want to hear it. But. My daughter and 77 other girls are going though tryout week for the dance team for jr. high. There are around 16 spots open. Tryouts are Friday. You do the math. The hormones, the tears, the hurt feelings, the Texas cheerleader type moms who will instantly say something like “my daughter’s hitch kicks were so much better than *insert any southern double name* I can’t believe she made it over her”……..so…………here I go……wait for it. You haven’t seen anything yet. heehee Have a great trip!!!
Oh Bless Your Heart! I was a High School Dance Team Director for years and KNOW the drama of which you speak. I still occasionally act as a judge for these try-outs and it is oh so bad when the judges must be escorted to their cars after try-outs are over to make sure no “Mom Confrontations” occur.
I’ll keep all of you in my prayers!
Lu, I LOVE that you said “Bless your heart”. You must be a southern gal too. Luckily, even though my daughter’s hormonal episodes are more frequent now, she has a good attitude about the situation. “Whatever happens, happens” she says, and I agree. I wondered where they got the judges. I would not want to be in that position. People are crazy train now. I am glad I grew up when I did (86 hs grad) because it seems everything is so competitive and “amped” up now. Thanks for the prayers! 🙂
My mom’s name was Lu, spelled the same way! She passed away almost 2 years ago, so what a sweet thing to see your name when I scrolled through the comments. Have a blessed day.
oh, so enjoyed this!
I won’t go on and on about how I have it worse, I will just say this: I homeschool. Take from that what you will.
Maybe I’m just asking for trouble, but I’m stealing my little 2.75 year old nephew for the week! He lives 3 hours away from me, but he’s all mine on spring break. I’m pretty sure the highlights will be hitting up Chuck E. Cheese and taking Buzz Lightyear to fly around the park.
No big plans here for Spring Break…just a fun filled week without mother’s morning out. I like to call it, “Summer Sampler,”…yikes!
It’s our Spring Break this week and I’m in China, where I ate exactly one bite of stomach lining at a friend’s insistence. That’s not nearly as traumatic as dealing with junior high girls, but not having had to do it is something to be grateful for. Trust me on that one.
Getting away with the hubs for a few nights in a cabin the north Georgia mountains. Our kids are grown and one of the best parts of that is the ability to get away on a moment’s notice, and not have to arrange child care or always take them with us. We rarely were away from them when they were growing up so this time in our lives is very sweet. We are so looking forward to sitting on the porch reading and enjoying the mountain scenery.
Where may I ask? I’m looking for the same kind of getaway and this sounds perfect. Thanks!
We are heading to your great state to visit The Hubs momma.
The kids are super excited. Nothing like a 10 hour drive to get them going.
I’m looking forward to SUN and WARMTH!! It’s been one long stinkin’ winter here in Kansas.
Oh, and we were looking at the kids pics from few years back and I began sobbing.
It’s a gift being a girl. Somebody put a brick on their heads so they’ll quit with the growing already.
Jr. High, 1st grade and preschool.
So far Jr High looks ALLOT like preschool- just w/o the diapers 😉
Happy trails to you-enjoy your trip!
Yes mam …12 to 14 hours of one way travel w/ 3 boys (14, 5, & 4) and my man headed to the bluegrass state. (KY) Of course, I want to stop by a few roadside shops and conduct my own version of Diners, Drive ins and Dives, but I do not think I am going to get my way. 🙁
Nonetheless, Spring Break could not have come at a better time. I will try to drink it all in because 3/20 we will be here before we all know it.
Thanks in advance to my family who is going to move in our house until we return. I hope they bring their own groceries, I AIN’T shopping for nobody. 🙂
Looking forward to your posts next week …
You want a good tear jerker, listen to Harry Chapin’s “Tangled up Puppet.” It slays me.
No spring break trip this year. We took 4 vacations last year and my wallet needs a break!
Have fun. Can’t wait for pictures…
Enjoying hearing the trips that many of you are taking. We rarely go away for spring break – but the funniest part is that our spring break isn’t for another five weeks! Probably because we live up north and still have snow covering the ground!!!
My son is in kindergarten, and trust me, I am SCARED for the future homework, relationships, etc., and praying like a warrior! In addtion, this week we’re building a Shamrock project (similar to your parade shoebox I’m guessing) that has me wondering – why?, why?, why?, do crafts have to happen at home — LOL!
The biggest blessing of kids being in college is after you get the call about all the papers/test/projects due this week before Spring Break, you can………offer encouragement and love, hang up the phone, go to Sonic for happy hour with the windows rolled down, singing loudly to Chris Tomlin, and GLADLY return home and NOT have to witness all the wailing and gnashing of teeth as above mentioned “homework” is completed!! Freedom girl, freedom!
Have a great trip.
We may or may not have a spring break- that’s the beauty of home schooling. ha! Seriously, we may not take one if my husband ends up getting tagged for a trip to Germany in May- then we’ll more than likely go along and I want most of the coursework done. If the trip is off, we’ll take some time off to play before a friend comes over to visit and we take a trip back to the States; we’re also going to start back up in early August so we can finish by May, pack our things up and send them back across the ocean without worrying about school books our last little bit here.
We considered taking a small vacation/road trip this spring break, but I figured after paying for gas to get there and back, we’d have to sleep in the car. So alas, we will be making the best of what The Woodlands has to offer. On a side note, I’m totally with you on the school thing (I have a third grader) and have threatened to homeschool just to avoid the projects (aka parent’s homework) that seem to be a weekly occurrence. As if that’s really the end all solution. Ha!
Oh, I am right there in second grade torment with you. For some reason I don’t remember second grade being this difficult the first time around.
Daughter #3 and I are hitting the road for South Carolina to visit Daughter #2 for a few days. Then we’ll come home, switch drivers, and Daughter #3 will head to upper New York State to be in a wedding. I love spring break too, except now that all my kids are college-age, it comes with its own angst. In five years I’ll never have to think about it again. Looking forward to that.
Both of my daughters have spring break the week of the 21st. They both failed to enlighten me to this fact prior to my booking a vacation to Florida to visit my MIL/FIL in their over 55 community. They are 18 and 21 and have no interest in hanging with the over 55 set (even though it’s like spring break down there for them – my word! the partying that goes on). So the 18 and 21 year old will be home alone. Am I worried? Nope. We made it through middle school AND high school with nary a scratch. And you will too! Enjoy.
I just found your blog. Love it! I have a second grade daughter too-I feel your pain! But where you really got me was the Jim Croce line. Amen!
I am a little bit fearful of junior high now after reading the story of the 2 year old. My oldest is already *sassy,* so I can’t imagine what things will be like in the years to come. Although, as I type this, my 3 year old is screaming hysterically upstairs b/c her sister told her she can’t bring her stuffed animal downstairs. Great.
And that ends this comment….
Now that we are leavin in NY, our spring break isn’t until April. But we will be traveling home to Texas!! Not so much for vacation, but for college visits!!! Yes this make my heart beat fast!! Have a great trip!!
I just love waking up in the morning with my coffee in hand and reading your blog! We are actually headed down your way for spring break! My WONDERFUL AMAZING husband surprised me with a cruise for Christmas!!! So, we are dropping off the rugrats – I mean angelic children – with his parents in northern Texas and then making the drive to Galveston!! When we get back we have ONE week to find a house in San Antonio b/c we are moving there this summer. This momma can’t wait for the heat – we are coming from Great Lakes, IL!
I have two weeks for Spring Break because I teach at a year round school. My plans? I will be at the school cleaning out cabinets because nine weeks after Spring Break I will be retiring after 22 years. Bittersweet.
No plans for spring break are the best plans for me. I’m a homebody. But I would send my family somewhere if I could!
We’ve had a week of math hell at our house. Husband is gone for the week for work, school is prepping for state assessment test next week, and a NIGHTLY 7 page math homework BOOKLET is killing me. Oh, and I painted my dining room yesterday. Ouch!
So far the tough years for my girls have been 13-16. Hang in there. It gets better!
One of my favorite people compares parenting to a hurricane. He says that from the ages of 2 to 8, the winds are blowing in one direction. Then you get a tiny eye of the storm where things seem OK, and then around age 10 the winds start blowing in a completely different direction. I’ve got one kid in each area of the storm right now, so I don’t know which way is up.
Have fun!
I love hearing about your spring break travels every year! Are you going to a baseball game?
2nd grade, my 2 girls are over 30 and we did not have the 3rd child because I really disliked (I know hate should be here) 1st grade. And yes, spring break is still my favorite time of the year. Enjoy yours.
My college aged daughter is at the beach this week. She was just in 2nd grade. I wrote a ‘spring break’ post today too. And rest assured, there is something to love and be challenged by at every age. Except 7th grade. That one is just plain challenging.
Have a great trip!
Ideally, we would head to Texas for Spring Break like we did 2 years ago. But instead, we’re going to get passports for the girlies (woohoo!!), meet Daddy for lunch a couple days, go visit my sister and her kids (90 minutes away) and whatever other thrilling things I can come up with.
Middle schoolers are the funniest kids you could ask for. they are truly toddler like in their “me me me” mentality, but at the same time, tremendously funny and compassionate.
You have so much fun ahead of you:-)
(My 13 year old actually laughs with me when I call her out on her self absorbed thinking- it is sooo funny to hear middle schoolers talk about themselves, their thoughts, and how NOONE is ever fair to them. You have to laugh, it is my number 1 parenting survival technigue! All stages and ages).
To the beach!!!! And I will get to cuddle my sweet niece that I haven’t seen since she was born in Dec. All I have to do is survive the flights with a 2 year old and a 5 year old.
We are going on a cruise! My best friend and I are taking her 17 year old son, my 15 year old son, and my 11 year old daughter on a cruise to Key West and Nassau! We just found out this weekend that not one, but two schools in our town are also going on the same cruise. Yikes! So much for getting away from it all, but at least we will still be in paradise. (And I hope it’s a very big boat!)
I don’t have my break for a couple more weeks, but I am head to the coast! I can’t wait to be on the beach for a few days. It always makes me feel so much better!
And those people who warn you about middle school aren’t kidding. (I wrangle with herds of them, day in and day out.) But as long as you keep your sense of humor, you can handle it!
I’m not supposed to say this but we never lock our doors and I love it and want to yell it to the world but the better half puts a damper on my excitement. I can’t get my friends to drive out to the middle of nowhere, I don’t think a roving band of thieves would either.
Well, right after I promised my 13 yr old daughter that we would go to FL to Harry Potter World, I realized that my son will be (OMG) a SENIOR next year and we need to get busy visiting colleges. So, in three weeks, we will leave on Saturday (from Ky) and drive to Boston, MA then on to Syracuse, NY and then to Athens, OH on the way home. I have no doubt that I will cry the majority of that time, because my sweet baby boy is going to be moving away in what will feel like about 5 minutes. Sigh. 🙂
I can’t imagine what kind of drama I’m in for…my six month old daughter is alllll about the drama right now. If I leave the room for one second, she whines and yells “MAMA!!” Like I’ve ditched her forever. I’m praying she won’t be like me as a teenager…I can’t believe I survived being a teenager without my dad wringing my neck.
And the last paragraph…loooove it! 🙂
We’re gonna attempt to landscape the frontyard. The 6 yr old boy is excited to dig up some dirt. My 18 yr old baby girl not so excited so she opt to sleep in and work extra hours. We might make a day trip to visit my 20 yr old since she’ll be working thru her break.
Have a fun trip!
When I changed from teaching high school English to middle school English back in 1999(good grief) – and this was all pre-marriage and pre-kids – I was met with many prophets of doom who told me that I was crazy for wanting to move down to the middle school level. “Those kids are nuts at that age.” these prophets said.
Well. Yes. They are emotional, somewhat manic, and desperately trying to figure out their identity. But let me tell you, it was one of the most precious times of my teaching career. Those kids were still little….trying to be big. I’ll never forget the time one of my seventh grade boys came up to me right before class ( he was a pretty little guy) and asked me if the puffer ski vest he was wearing made him look more “buff”. I nearly fell out of my chair.
And it’s true – on any given day, I would walk into the locker room (I also coached the 8th grade girls volleyball, b-ball, and track teams – I was young back then) and there would usually be three different groups of girls clustered: one group would be mad, one group would be crying, and one group would be completely oblivious. But it was fun, and definitely an adventure.
You’ve got a while yet – but I’m here to be the antithesis to those prophets of doom and say that junior high could be just a great adventure.
I’ll expect you to give me that same advice and encouragement when my kids get there too. 🙂
This was way too long a comment. Sorry.
Bless you for going on those ski trips!
We have an extended spring break trip planned. First the kids and I will be joining hubby in San Antonio (we live south of Denver and he has been working down there for 10 months) for 4 days of tourist activities, then we are headed to Disney world with my parents for a week. Then back to SA for a two day trip to the beach! It should be fabulously fun, exhausting and spirit restoring. When we get back I have to pack up the house. Ugh!
Have a wonderful spring break!!!
My son’s second grade year was the worst year of my life, hands down. It took a flood, A FLOOD, that kept him out of school for a week for me to decide to homeschool. Boy, would I love to take a road trip. Is there any better snacking than on a road trip? Stale moon pies from gas stations, diner biscuits….oh the nostalgia.
We have very exciting plans for spring break. I will be driving my three kids under five to Waco from Austin to go to the zoo. That’s it. That is the sum total of my spring break.
I don’t think spring break counts until you get a kid in elementary so for me, I’m just annoyed that preschool isn’t in session because that means I have an entire week of my five year old telling me wants to dooooo something instead of waiting for his baby sister to nap.
I used to go to FL every year for spring break growing up. Why can’t I go to FL? I’m sure the Waco Zoo will be just as nice.
I wouldn’t worry about announcing you will be out of town with P being home alone, armed and semi-dangerous. You have evidence all over your walls of his dangerous-ness. A burgler (don’t think I spelled that right) would be entering at his own risk!
I have never been happier that I married an elementary school teacher than this year. If I had to ever be on the show Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader. My husband and my son would so embarassed they move to a new city and leave far far behind. 5th grade Math and Social Studies…UGH! Science I got but the rest, PLEASE! As for Spring Break we are going to somewhere, but haven’t really decided where and when. I made the executive decision some weeks ago that we needed a break before baseball takes over and we have no games/practices the week of Spring Break so off we are going. Have a great mini-vacation. Can’t wait to hear all about it.
I don’t know what Spring Break plans I’m most excited about: Taking my kids to Disney World for the first time (they are 4 and 6) or turning around less than one week later and heading to the beach with 6 of my closest girlfriends from college. Two different trips for sure. Pretty pumped about both. I can’t wait to introduce my 4 year old daughter to the princesses over breakfast at the castle! And I also can’t wait to lie on the beach with nothing but good friends, a book, and our laughter to keep me busy. Bring on April!!
I am happy (unhappy) to say my only child that was once an infant, toddler, jr higher, high schooler, soccer player, college student. Oh how could I describe each of these precious days, but Lord knows we don’t have the time. Now, I am forgoing all of my vacation and funds this year to plan a wedding of a lifetime for her!
Our spring break is not until the week before Easter. And do I have plans? Oh, you bet I do. I’ll be easing my husband into learning to vacation. His request? Omaha. No. I’m not kidding. So we’ll be loading up the kids and heading to…Omaha. I’ve got nothing against Omaha, but you tell me the last person who told you they were spending spring break there. In any case, we’ll spend a couple days in Kansas City, and a couple days in Omaha so we can go to the very big, very cool zoo. Please, Sweet Jesus, let it go well, so we can vacation again someday. Challenge: sharing a hotel room with 7 yr, 5 yr and 7 month old girls. May God have mercy on us.
14 days from RIGHT now we will be loading up the suburban and heading to Marco Island. I am in need of a break from the beatdown! I am a little apprehensive because 3 of my 4 boys are licensed drivers now and will be sharing the driving responsibilities. I was in FULL favor and support of flying but my dear husband thought it would be more of an adventure and family bonding time if we drove. I need to invest in some type of sleeping mask now!
I raised three daughters and we survived the trauma and drama of Jr. High and High School with only a few scars and horror stories. The great part is that we all came out the other side as adults who truly enjoy each others company. In fact,
for Spring Break, my oldest daughter is including me in their family trip to Disneyland. It is such fun to watch my grandsons at their favorite place in the world.
My precious husband is taking me away for spring brreak because two after that he is walking our youngest daughter (22 years old) down the aisle. I am very conflicted…having a blast planning the wedding, we love “the boy” (as my husband calls him) but it is our baby…so, there you have it!
it has been forever since I’ve been here (to your blog, not your situation). Clearly, my priorities have been unprioritized lately. thanks for the laugh out loud 🙂 I have to remember to come back every day now. i can’t wait for the stories where someone throws up in the back seat of your car 🙂
I had no idea a Simpson’s type character would come up when I commented. Interesting….and also unsettling
Hope y’all have a fun week! We’re sticking close to home. Our nanny will just go from keeping 1 boy to keeping 3 boys this week.
One day I may long to go back to the toddler years….but since we’re in the thick of all that right now, I say bring on some years of independence!!
No plans for Spring Break, since this is their year with their dad. I am, however, looking for an interesting summer trip to take with them. Since this is the summer of the big 4-0 (and yes, that means you too), I decided that we would celebrate our birthdays with an amazing vacation. I asked the boys where they wanted to go, and of course, “ski” was the answer. Once I told them that we do that every OTHER year because it’s expensive and divorced moms only get them every other Spring Break, they lost interest in the vacation planning. Apparently they will one day have bumper stickers that say “Ski or BUST.”
I suggested things that I thought were WAY cool, like white water rafting and zip lining in North Caroline. They weren’t sold on the idea. I think the comment that sent me running and screaming from the room was “Don’t we need like a man to go with us for that kind of stuff?” If we are filming a remake of the movie “Deliverance” then yes, I will gladly bring a man along on the trip, so that he can be tortured by mountain folk. Otherwise, NO WE DO NOT!
Anyway I think we are leaning toward a cruise. Of course, nothing can be booked until the All-Star baseball plans are ironed out. Who knows? I might end up spending another vacation in The Woodlands at a baseball field. It is a glamorous life that I lead.
Don’t sweat worrying about the Junior High years. I think I told you before that every year I think “THIS is my favorite year.” That hasn’t changed even though they are in Junior High. They are smart and funny and I couldn’t be more proud. Even on days when my head spins around and pea soup flies out of my mouth as a reaction to something idiotic that they decide to do. (i.e. What do you mean that you have a paper due tomorrow and it’s 9:30pm? What do you mean you ‘broke’ the sink and the house is flooding?) I’ve been blessed that they still enjoy my company. Thank Goodness because I totally enjoy their company and hate it when they visit their dad.
We’re sticking around town and I’m so happy! Life has been extra busy and we have a few things on the horizon for summer – so I’m good with some days to rest and sleep in (excluding my daughter’s volleyball practices and tournament. :))
Love the disclaimer and completely understand it because my husband is a police officer and that is just the way he has us think around our house.
Not going anywhere….sob, sob. Gas is way too much to go anywhere right now.
I am very sad too….just in case you may possibly have realized that I have not been commenting like I once did…lol Since the first of the year I have had the hardest time getting on here to read….very busy…..and NOW my friend that worked with me in the office has quit and I for sure can’t get on here and read anymore. I was just going through something today and thought I need Big Mama….therefore I read today.
Miss reading dearly and will get on when I can,
Cydney
I can so relate. Yesterday I sent my son looking for his sippy cup, and it turned out I was holding it in my lap the entire time. I’m 10 weeks pregnant, so my husband says that pregnancy has stolen my mind. But I fear that I’ve lost it forever.
How I wish our Spring Break was next week, but here in Georgia it’s not until the first full week of April. We are going to drive to south Louisana to celebrate my niece’s 3rd birthday and on the way back stop in Huntsville to see the Space Center. Exciting, I know. We are planning our big vacation for the summer and so all the money goes to that. Enjoy your road trip!
LOVED the disclaimer, the Jim Croce, and the car keys. Similar to putting the milk in the cabinet instead of the fridge. I get it. And Port A – not that spring break is the greatest time to go there with kiddos, but hey, home is where you’re Mama lives, right? So, we’re headed home for a few days.
Have a great road trip!
YOUR, not “you’re”…ugh. Should have just written “yo mama” like I usually would. Sigh.
Amen. I am terrified of third grade. Scared. To. Death.
I’m a 4th grade teacher, and we look forward to SB as much as the kids. I am not getting out of my bed for the first 3 days. I’ll take a jug of water and some cookies and live in my bed with my dog and the remote. I have a long list of plans that won’t get accomplished and by Thursday I’ll start missing my students and I’ll be so excited to get back to school. It’s been the same for the last 25 yrs…. ha! Enjoy your trip. Your last sentence made me think of P. sitting on the front porch in overalls (w/no shirt:) cleaning his gun and chewing on a piece of hay…..protecting the homestead…ha
I just found your blog yesterday. You are hilarious! I’m your newest fan (and also a fellow Aggie, class of ’97) 🙂
I’m working full time instead of half time so somebody else can go to Texas.
EVERYBODY! Read “Boundaries” by Cloud and Trent. Any version that applies. . .and memorize the message in it. Wish I had read it, oh, 7 years earlier or so. Really.